Examining the Role of the State in Doctoral Education: A Review of the ‘National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030’

Globalisation positioned doctoral graduates as ‘human capital’, equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen research and innovation to gain a competitive advantage globally (Bernstein, BL et al., 2014; Nerad, 2020; Nerad et al., 2022; Nerad & Trzyna, 2008). This study aimed to investigate how the Irish government recontextualised doctoral education, addressing the problems identified in the ‘National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030’ (‘Hunt Report’) and assess the instruments used to govern its implementation. In addition, the study sought to critically evaluate the outputs of the Hunt Report in terms of human capital and changes in activities and behaviours within the Triple Helix of Government-University-Industry. The objective was to explore the impact of the Hunt Report on the transformation of doctoral education in Ireland. Using Colebatch’s Policy Framework, the study first conducted a critical discourse analysis of the Hunt Report, assessing the impact of global and national policies between 2005 and 2011 and the technologies of governance outlined in the Hunt Report. Secondly, over ten years after the Hunt Report, the study critically examined the outputs and changes in behaviours on two key themes: governance and human capital. This analysis drew on quantitative data obtained from OECD and Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Databank databases, a review of seven Irish universities’ websites and the System Performance Framework (2018-2020) and Mission-Based Performance Compacts (2018-2021).