Why five years of research for Ph.D. should be considered work experience
This article argues that the five years spent pursuing a Ph.D. should be formally recognized as work experience in the Indian labor market. It highlights how the current lack of recognition leads to skill underutilization and financial instability for highly qualified graduates.
Why it matters
It addresses a systemic issue in the academic and professional labor market that affects the career trajectories of thousands of highly educated individuals.
Imagine spending five years conducting research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at national and international conferences, and contributing to the intellectual life of a university. Then, upon entering the labour market, you are told: “Sorry, you are not eligible. You have zero work experience.” This is not a hypothetical scenario. It is the lived reality of thousands of doctoral graduates in India every year. The degree celebrated as the pinnacle of academic achievement is treated as if it never happened.
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