PD stands for Professional Doctorate and it is the equivalent of the PhD for the Dutch Universities of the Applied Sciences. The difference is that a PhD programme at a university trains a professional researcher, while the PD programme at the Universities of Applied Sciences trains an investigative professional.
In 2022, universities of applied sciences will start with a first cohort of candidates in five domains, including the creative domain. More cohorts will be added until 2025.
The PD pilot Arts + Creative is organized by 15 Dutch arts and design schools. It is governed by a Graduate Board of school managers and a Graduate Committee of arts and design professors. The daily procedures and execution are executed by a dedicated taskforce with administrative support from the St. Joost School of Art and Design.
| Taskforce PD | ||
| Liesbet van Zoonen | Erasmus University | Rotterdam |
| Anke Coumans | Minerva Art Academy | Groningen |
| Michel van Dartel | Caradt at St.Joost School of Art and Design | Breda, Den Bosch |
| Management and support | ||
| René Bosma | St.Joost School of Art and Design | Breda, Den Bosch |
| Rens Holslag | Caradt at St.Joost School of Art and Design | Breda, Den Bosch |
| Wilma Diepens | Caradt at St.Joost School of Art and Design | Breda, Den Bosch |
| Visual Identity and Design | ||
| Steffen Maas | Studio Maas | Rotterdam |
| Communication advice and content management | ||
| Roos Borchers | Hanze University of Applied Sciences | Groningen |
| Web development | ||
| Joris van Oers en Cas Slaats | Studio Krom | Eindhoven |
| Graduate Board | ||
| tba | ||
| Graduate Committee | ||
| tba |