Building Knowledge: Doctoral Perspectives

Abstract

The creation of a dialogue space on the theme "Building Knowledge: Doctoral Perspectives," within the context of the VI International Education Congress of the National University of Education, held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, enabled the presentation of diverse viewpoints (convergent, complementary, or divergent) expressed by specialists regarding the doctoral training process in the field of education. Reflection on this topic is both necessary and timely. Doctoral programs in education in Ecuador are a recent development: the first was approved in 2021, and by July 2025 there are five programs available for a population linked to the educational system at all levels, exceeding 250,000 professionals. The dialogue was structured around three axes: the challenges and sustainability of doctoral programs, innovation and social relevance, and the training of trainers and internationalization. It was an honor to have the presence of distinguished university experts, key figures in the creation, leadership, and development of doctoral programs in education in Ecuador, who, through their experiences, offered invaluable insight into the challenges, opportunities, and future of doctoral training and research in education in Ecuador and Latin America.