This talk will provide the context to the experience of policy scholars by presenting macro- and micro-level changes in doctoral education and postdoctoral training worldwide. For 25 years, globalization and an increasing size of a middle-class in many countries around the world, have moved governmental attention to doctoral education and research for innovation. Governments, hereby, followed the economic model that views knowledge as a critical national resource for economic growth, innovation, and international competitiveness.The predominant models of research education reforms used by governments were monetary incentives often in forms of direct funding to universities for desired outcomes and competitive funding schemes for doctoral and postdoctoral programs with specified characteristics. The positive and negative consequences will be illustrated.

The way forward encourages the policy scholars to not only to work hard, but to develop and internalize a sustainability mindset and use the space and time now to question the status quo, to examine the reproduction of inequality, and to become aware and prepare for their future ethical leadership.