Doctoring the PhD: servicing stakeholder needs and challenging uncertainty

It may be argued that the PhD research process contributes to academic knowledge. However, the status and relative contribution of stakeholders in the research process may be both dynamic and debatable. The perceptions and conceptualization of the PhD process and the potential outcomes may be unclear and open to debate. Accordingly, this paper seeks to expose the relevant issues to further discussion. Some issues may be cognitive or instinctual in nature and may either facilitate or hinder the research processes. The experience of the authors helps to form the basis of the discussions and offers a grounded approach to the re-evaluation of the PhD and related research and the outcomes it may provide. Broadly speaking, it is suggested that the core process is 'service orientated'. Further it is suggested that there are a number of key stakeholders which include, the researcher, academia, employers, and professionals. However the paper challenges this view and posits that there is an additional stakeholder factor to be considered; this being labelled 'societal'. In addition, the paper poses the question "what is the purpose of the PhD in the modern world?", with particular reference to the internationalization of academia.