There are moments when a public system must decide whether it intends to preserve the existing order or adapt itself to reality. The debate surrounding professional or applied doctoral degrees is precisely such a moment. Those who oppose the idea often rely on long-standing academic tradition, but that does not always provide sufficient justification. History shows that preserving the status quo can sometimes delay progress instead of protecting it.
This was true in the early years of the State of Israel. The establishment of new higher education institutions faced opposition from existing universities, yet those very institutions became central partners in building Israel’s scientific and academic foundations, helping transform the country into a global technological powerhouse. The question, therefore, is not whether change should occur, but when we will recognize that the change is already here.
Israel’s economic and security reality in 2026 bears little resemblance to that of previous decades. The economy depends on innovation, advanced technology, and the ability to rapidly transform knowledge into solutions for critical challenges. In such a reality, the classic research doctorate alone is no longer sufficient. It remains important, but it does not answer all of today’s needs and demands.
An applied doctorate, focused on solving real-world problems, is not a “weakened version” of the traditional PhD, but rather a different and necessary track. It trains researcher-practitioners: individuals who know not only how to formulate research questions, but also how to lead engineering projects, develop systems, or address complex security and medical challenges. In a world where the pace of technological change is dizzying, this is not a luxury, it is a basic requirement.
The data already speaks for itself: non-university academic institutions are generating significant economic value, training highly skilled professionals, and maintaining close ties with industry. It is precisely this proximity to the field that enables them to identify real needs and quickly build programs that respond to them.
The world has already moved forward. Many countries operate applied doctoral programs and applied universities that bridge academia and industry. In Israel, however, the discussion is still conducted as though such programs threaten the existing order. They complement it.
Moreover, especially today in the era of artificial intelligence, complex systems, and ongoing security challenges, the gap between knowledge accumulated in industry and that developed in academia is steadily widening. If academia once led the way, industry today is often ahead. In such a situation, a professional applied doctorate is the natural bridge between these two worlds.
The decision by Israel’s Council for Higher Education and Planning and Budgeting Committee to allow such programs in non-university institutions is a step in the right direction. It creates a more accurate and reality-based academic structure, rooted in the understanding that innovation does not grow only in theoretical research laboratories, but also in development and engineering centers, and testing fields.
This decision also carries an important national and social dimension: opening the door to applied doctoral programs across diverse institutions can expand access to advanced education, strengthen Israel’s periphery, and train a new generation of experts who are not only researchers, but also implementers and solution leaders.
Ultimately, the question is not who is “worthy” of granting doctoral degrees, but what kind of higher education system Israel needs to remain relevant, competitive, and secure. The answer is clear: one that does not fear change but leads it. The traditional research doctorate will continue to serve as an important cornerstone, but without an applied doctorate alongside it, Israel risks an ever-growing gap between knowledge and capability, between research and implementation, and between potential and reality.
Professor Eduard Yakubov is the president of the Holon Institute of Technology