3. POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION and RESEARCH

3.2. Doctoral Studies in Engineering

• The doctorate is the highest level of formal engineering education. Ideally, it should provide graduates who combine a depth of scientific understanding and research capability with a breadth of innovative applicational ability.

• At present, many engineering doctoral theses are deeply specialized and narrow in scope, whether analytical or experimental. The prime emphasis is on an original contribution to knowledge. Less frequent are theses which are synthesis or design based, discovering and elaborating novel operational principles in applications of existing knowledge in a complex holistic situation.

• The objectives of doctoral programs in engineering should include, not only the development of new and significant contributions to engineering knowledge, but also the development of superior capabilities in the candidate for synthesis, innovation, technical judgment, economic and social sensitivity and leadership. To emphasize these objectives, some institutions might consider adopting the designation of a Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) degree.

• Doctoral students should be involved in an understanding of the whole process of generating and defining the problem, negotiating collaborative agreements for contributions, designing and performing experiments, and implementation of results, including the intellectual property aspects of technology transfer from university to industry.

• Entry to an engineering doctoral program should normally follow the successful completion of a professional master's program. Prior research experience should not be a requirement.

• Most if not all doctoral candidates in engineering should develop close links with counterparts in industry during their programs. The vertical or sequential model of the university discovering and then the industry applying is not appropriate for most current engineering. Rather, a horizontal model involving close university-industry interaction is needed.

RECOMMENDATION 32: Doctoral programs in engineering, while research oriented, should aspire to achieve a balance between the development of new and significant contributions to engineering knowledge and the development of superior capabilities in the candidate for innovation, and technical judgment.

RECOMMENDATION 33: Regulations should be such as to allow admission to an engineering doctoral program following completion of any of the professional masters programs.

RECOMMENDATION 34: Research supervisors should encourage doctoral candidates in engineering to develop close links with counterparts in industry during their programs.