Doctoral education in commerce: Evidence-based insights into research orientation, quality, and policy relevance

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in doctoral studies in commerce, signalling increased importance put on knowledge production in the contemporary system of higher education. Doctoral education in commerce is expected to contribute to the academic knowledge and professional practice. However, this growth has evoked significant concerns over the research focus, quality and relevance of doctoral work in the discipline. This study provides an evidence-based evaluation of doctoral studies in commerce through a systematic investigation of insights from peer-reviewed scholarly literature, policy documents, and case-based evidence. The study shows that doctoral research generally employs an empirical and methodological approach, and has a comparatively lower focus on theory-construction and conceptual development. The study shows that there is a long-standing discrepancy between academic research and its relevance to the industry, policy, and the social needs in general. Issues such as methodological limitations, institutional disparities, supervisory constraints, and limited industry engagement continue to influence research quality and impact. In response, this study develops an integrated conceptual framework linking research relevance, orientation, and quality assurance as interdependent dimensions of doctoral education. The findings of the study show the need for systemic reforms aimed at enhancing industry-university linkages, fostering intellectual originality, strengthening research rigor, and promoting multidisciplinary collaboration. The study contributes to the body of literature by providing a comprehensive policy-relevant perspective on improving the societal impact, effectiveness, and coherence of doctoral studies in commerce.