In both developed and developing countries, the Ph.D. retains its currency as the passport to an academic career, students and scholarship providers appear willing to pay increasing fees to obtain them, and several governments have expressed the need to increase the proportion of university doctorates. This session examined issues related to meeting demand for doctoral degrees, particularly in developing countries; the potential impact on brain drain; maintaining quality; potential new modes of doctoral education; making doctoral training more relevant and international; attracting and retaining a sufficient number of Ph.D. holders and making best use of their talents. The session marked the launch of a new project, linking the Association of Commonwealth Universities, AUF, and the African Academy of Sciences.

Facilitators: 

• Prof. Tim Unwin, Professor of Geopgraphy, Royal Holloway, University of London and UNESCO, UK

• Prof. John WOOD, Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), UK