Abstract:
Professional doctorates designed to meet the needs of particular groups (education, nursing, business,
law, etc.) have been established, and the PhD now encompasses a wide range of academic
pursuits. However, the combination of the PhD and designated professional doctorates does not
exhaust the range of doctoral-level education. Is there a particular role for a doctoral-level qualification
for those who do not wish to follow the academic path of the PhD, or the designated path of
existing professional doctorates? This paper argues that there is such a need, and identifies and
explores some of the issues to be faced in addressing such a need. The paper focuses on three challenges
for academic practice in doctoral education arising from this. First, the impetus for new
forms of doctoral education is considered and what this implies for the diversity of current provision.
Second, the target population for new professionally orientated doctorates is examined, namely
'new knowledge workers', those who operate in areas not covered by specialized doctorates and
those who wish to negotiate transdisciplinary programs. Finally, the paper examines issues
universities face in meeting the needs of new populations of doctoral candidates, particularly the
need to develop new academic cultural practices.
