Resituating the PhD: Towards an Ecological Adeptness

Ever since the dawn of its modern history at the start of the twentieth century, the PhD has undergone change as attempts are made to align it to felt needs of its times. And now, it may plausibly be suggested, the twenty-first century is presenting massive challenges which the PhD - in its present format - is entirely unable to address. A new framework is due, therefore, so as to resituate the PhD. Suggested here is an ecological approach, ‘ecological’ being extended beyond its customary associations with the natural environment, and seized upon for its suggestions of interconnectedness, systems, fragility, sustainability and humanity’s responsibilities for the world. This new PhD would be a trans-disciplinary voyage of discovery, a wisdom-doctorate, synoptic and far-reaching, of societal and even global value, and yielding moments of large insight as well as personal self-discovery on the part of the student. Such a programme calls for personal maturity on the part of candidates but it calls also for nimble footwork on the part of institutions, as they allow the student to draw on resources from beyond his/her discipline. The institution, the PhD programme, the supervisor(s) and the student would all become ecologically adept.