From Academia to Industry: Are Doctorate Holders Ready?

Abstract

Abstract.In policy debates related to innovation potential, the limited mobility from academia to industry is often explained by the supposed mismatch of skills needed in these different settings. We contribute to this debate by (1) examining the attitudes of Flemish doctoral candidates towards careers in industry; and (2) by analysing the extent to which doctoral candidates and employers in industry in Flanders differ in their views on the skills needed to perform well in this sector. We combined survey data with qualitative research. The Survey of Junior Researchers provides information on the doctoral candidates' perspective on these matters, whereas the Research & Development Survey of Flemish companies reflects the employers' views. Additional data obtained through interviews with both doctorate holders and employers provide a more in depth understanding of the transition from academia to industry. A mismatch between what doctoral candidates consider important skills for a job in industry, and what employers expect from researchers is observed. The importance of technical skills and more transferable competencies such as project management and business skills are underestimated by doctoral candidates. The findings raise questions on the awareness among doctoral candidates of the skills needed for a career outside academia. Addressing possible negative attitudes, and providing adequate training and career planning could improve their preparation for work in non-academic settings, confirming findings in other countries that institutional programmes have a role to play in bridging the gap between employers' expectations and those of doctoral candidates.

Higher Education Institutions in the Knowledge Triangle

“…However, while HEIs are increasingly engaging local stakeholders on university boards or for fund raising, the corollary is also important. Economic development agencies can arguably do more to engage HEIs in Strategies their public service delivery missions, economic development, urban planning or "smart city" initiatives [Meissner, 2015a,b;Schiavone, Simoni, 2016;De Grande et al, 2014]. The role of HEIs in the regions also depends on the relative power and motivation of the actors.…”

Too many PhDs? An invalid argument for countries developing their scientific and academic systems: The case of Portugal

“…These motivations are less related with financial incentives, downstream work and access to resources (Guerin et al, 2015;Roach and Sauermann, 2010;Zhou, 2014). In general, doctoral students are interested in learning skills that are not necessarily those for which there is a demand in non-academic sectors, and this has been discussed in the literature as a major challenge to the employment of doctorate holders in non-academic sectors (see De Grande et al, 2014). It is also clear that financial motivation has not been critical for many doctoral applicants (Guerin et al, 2015;Roach and Sauermann, 2010;Zhou, 2014), although studies present mixed findings concerning the salary premium of holding a PhD when compared to other higher education degrees (e.g., Casey, 2009 vis-a-vis Mertens andRobken, 2013).…”

“…The related migration of doctorate holders from academia to non-academic sectors is only relevant in countries with developed high-tech sectors (Thune, 2009), which are increasingly drivers of the ongoing international competition for skilled human resources. Second, it suggests that higher education and government sectors in Portugal and other comparatively less developed European regions should increase employment opportunities for new doctorate holders in order to retain and attract PhDs at home (De Grande et al, 2014;Roach and Sauermann, 2010).…”

“…At the same time, a major concern in mature scientific systems is the lack of available positions in academia for doctorate holders and the sets of skills that doctorate holders require to be employed in non-academic sectors (e.g., De Grande et al, 2014). This issue is usually understood as both a challenge and an opportunity in these systems, with implications for systems still in the developing stages, even considering the need for PhDs to improve qualifications in the academic sector.…”

Building Bridges Between Industry and Academia: What Is the Profile of an Industrial Doctorate Student?

“…The changes in knowledge production have had implications for the research activities carried out in higher education institutions and, consequently, for research training. This has become evident in the criticisms often addressed to doctoral education for not being relevant outside academia, where relevance is understood as preparing doctoral students capable of working in other sectors of society and industry (Roberts, 2018;Kyvik & Olsen, 2012;De Grande et al, 2014). De Grande et al (2014) also argue for a mind-set change among doctoral researchers and supervisors in order to turn them more receptive to employment outside academia.…”