Pakistan, Oct. 20 -- Doctoral education is the bedrock of any higher education system. Research is considered a defining feature of doctoral education. However, most universities, though not all, lack the resources to produce competitive doctoral scholars. Consequently, many scholars struggle to find relevant employment. Moreover, when universities, especially those in the private sector, prioritise revenue generation over rigour in doctoral education, its underlying philosophy dies. As a result, many scholars consider buying a degree rather than earning it in the true sense.

One of our PhD students also regurgitated the above-mentioned context: "When I give full attention to study ,my employer complains and I even fail to pay semester f...