Call for Proposals Professional Doctorate

Secretary of the PD-LTH Jos van der Sterren: “If you look at future-proofing – a core concept in the PD – the LTH-domain is a sector that has many future-oriented issues on its plate. I am talking about issues such as the sustainability of business models, the transition to future-proof business forms in the broadest sense of the word, the impact of the hospitality domain on the social environment, the environmental environment and the natural environment, the quality of work, the shortages on the labour market and the mismatch between the qualities we need and the qualities that are delivered and finally robotisation and AI. These are all issues that cannot be solved in the traditional way with bachelors and masters. The sector needs candidates who tackle a theme that they can work on for several years based on concrete, practical issues.”

The PD offers organisations the opportunity to be at the forefront of developing and applying innovations within Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality. A PD is a long-term research and development trajectory in which candidates tackle concrete issues from practice. In terms of level, the PD is equivalent to a PhD at a university, but focuses much more on interventions in practice. In addition to being researchers, candidates are also innovators and change agents. The PD is based on testing innovations and interventions, which can lead to a 'proof of concept', a tested prototype or to scalable policy interventions in the public sector. Results are often visible within one to one and a half years.

A PD trajectory runs for four to six years, during which the candidate works on their PD issue for at least 60% of the working time. The supervision consists of two lecturers and two work field supervisors. The candidates are also offered a development trajectory at the universities of applied sciences and, together with the other candidates in the domain, form a learning community of practice. Each approved PD trajectory is largely funded by the government.

Seven universities of applied sciences are participating in the PD-LTH: Saxion, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, HZ University of Applied Sciences, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Hotelschool The Hague. The Centre of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality is the secretariat for the Professional Doctorate.

More information is in the attached Call for Proposals https://www.professionaldoctorate.nl/domeinen/leisure-tourism-hospitality