Proposed legislation: Master’s students will be able to obtain a PD at universities of applied sciences

In 2023, Dutch universities of applied sciences launched a pilot scheme for their own doctoral programme, the professional doctorate (PD). Candidates following a doctoral programme at a university of applied sciences tackle a complex problem from professional practice. PD candidates apply the knowledge they possess and acquire during their PD programme directly in practice. By the end of the programme, they will have attained level EQF-8/NLQF-8.

The pilot was launched by the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the SIA Coordination Body. The pilot will run from 2023 to 2029 and will be carried out across 7 domains. 26 universities of applied sciences are involved, and a total of 164 candidates will commence a PD programme within the pilot. Further information can be found on the page About the pilot.

https://www.professionaldoctor...

In the Netherlands, a doctoral degree can currently only be obtained at a university. But if the government has its way, it will soon be possible to obtain a doctoral degree at a university of applied sciences too. Today, the first draft of the legislative amendment required for this is being made public.

Fontys director Arian Steenbruggen: “This legislative amendment is an important step in the further development of the Dutch research system. With the introduction of the Professional Doctor (PD), the value of practice-oriented research carried out by universities of applied sciences is recognised at the highest level. This offers our students new opportunities to deepen their knowledge and to develop concrete solutions to societal issues in collaboration with the professional field.” Characteristic of the professional doctorate are design and intervention, carried out in close collaboration with professionals from the field. The societal impact of the research is immediately visible. Examples can be found at www.professionaldoctorate.nl.

Minister Rianne Letschert (Education, Culture and Science): “I believe it is important to truly value such research. A legally recognised degree is simply part of that. It is good that this is now being introduced; it really is a missing piece of the puzzle.”

Two new degrees in the education system
The legislative amendment will introduce two new official degrees into the education system. A degree is an internationally recognised title awarded upon completion of a course of study or research. Well-known examples include Doctor and Master. Soon, a Professional Doctor (PD) will be added to these, which you can obtain after a practice-oriented research project lasting 4–6 years. And at university, too, you can obtain a new statutory degree: Engineering Doctor (EngD). This programme has existed for some time, but until now no degree or title was attached to it. It lasts two years and focuses on technological design.

Practice-oriented research of great social importance
Various reports, from organisations such as the OECD and Rathenau, show that the Netherlands needs more people who continue to develop their knowledge and skills after completing their Master’s degree. They are needed to solve the major problems of our time. Practice-oriented research is of great value in this regard.

The value of this is demonstrated by a pilot project that has been running in recent years in collaboration with the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences and the SIA Coordination Body. One example is research conducted in partnership with the hospitality sector to reduce plastic pollution in the sea. Or the development of AI-driven energy systems in buildings, which relieve the strain on the electricity grid. Consider also innovations for quickly detecting illegal graves, which are important in forensic investigations. Each and every one is valuable and directly applicable.

Maurice Limmen of the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences: “The professional doctorate trains people who, together with companies and institutions, bring about innovations in a professional practice that is changing at breakneck speed due to technological developments such as artificial intelligence. The legal enshrinement of the PD would therefore, particularly at this time, be very good news for our economy and society. And a milestone for higher professional education.”

Comparable to a PhD at a university
The plan is for students with a master’s degree to be able to follow the legally recognised PD or EngD pathway from the 2027–2028 academic year onwards. The bill stipulates that both programmes have the same level of difficulty as a PhD at a university, but with a different focus. It therefore truly enriches the education system, offering both higher professional education and university Master’s students, as well as professionals, a wonderful new opportunity for further development.

Legislative amendment in line with coalition agreement
The government aims to stimulate practice-oriented research, as stated in the coalition agreement. The ability to undertake a PhD at a university of applied sciences fits in with this. To facilitate this, the Higher Education and Scientific Research Act (WHW) must be amended. The legislative process begins today with an online consultation; the next steps are advice from the Council of State and debate of the bill in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

https://www.fontys.nl/actueel/...

Within Fontys ICT, lecturer/researcher Leon Schrijvers is working on a methodology to optimise IT processes using reliable LLM solutions. This PhD project focuses on the reliable, effective and responsible integration of Large Language Models into IT processes. Despite their potential for tasks such as code reviews, ticket triage and reporting, a lack of trust, quality assurance and process alignment hinder their widespread deployment. In the project, Leon is developing a methodology with task-oriented quality criteria, a technical evaluation framework, consideration of organisational impact, and legal and ethical requirements such as the AI Act. In collaboration with Sioux Technologies and Alliander, a transferable framework for responsible LLM adoption in complex IT environments is being created.

“I hope this research will yield results that genuinely benefit people and demonstrate how Generative AI technologies can be deployed reliably to deliver real added value.

I also hope that my research can be used to gain a better grasp of the rapid development of the IT field, thereby helping to shape education further, so that we can train the ICT engineers of the future even more effectively.”

https://www.professionaldoctor...