EUA Council for Doctoral Education

The Doctoral Debate

“The Doctoral Debate” is an online platform featuring original articles with commentary and analysis on doctoral education in Europe. Articles focus on trending topics in doctoral education and state-of-the-art policies and practices. The Debate showcases voices and views from EUA-CDE members and partners.

All views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of EUA Council for Doctoral Education. If you would like to respond to this article by writing your own piece, please see The Doctoral Debate style guidelines and contact the CDE team to pitch your idea.

• 23 Jul. 2018
  EUA-CDE in the World | Thomas Jørgensen, EUA

  Credits: EUA

  The EUA-CDE Annual Meeting in 2018 included perspectives from outside Europe. Speakers from Asia, Africa and North America presented our European community with the global dimension of doctoral education. Thomas Jørgensen looks back how EUA-CDE first started and subsequently developed its international engagement. Read more
• 06 Jun. 2018
  Doctoral education matters for Europe more than ever before | Luke Georghiou, EUA-CDE/ University of Manchester It is at the apex of higher education, research and innovation, but issues around integrity and employability must be addressed for doctoral education to continue to thrive, says Luke Georghiou. Read more
• 04 Jun. 2018
  Cross-border doctoral education at The European Campus | Janosch Nieden, Eucor – The European Campus

  

  In the Upper Rhine region, the universities of Basel, Freiburg, Haute-Alsace and Strasbourg together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are breaking new ground in cross-border cooperation. The trinational university grouping “Eucor – The European Campus”, opens doctoral candidates to a research landscape that goes beyond the potential of a single university. Read more
• 02 May. 2018
  Further developing doctoral supervision training in Europe | Joan J. Carvajal, María Ercilia García, Mar Reguero and Mireia Valverde, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) Doctoral supervision plays a central role in preparing doctoral candidates to contribute to research and society. However, training and support for supervisors too often remain at a basic level. This article makes the case for the full integration of doctoral supervision training into the strategy of universities, providing supervisors with the support they need to prepare early-stage researchers for a fast-moving world. Read more
• 28 Mar. 2018
  Protecting both whistle blowers and the scientists they accuse | Sven Hendrix, Hasselt University

  Credits: Kunst Bilder/ Shutterstock

  There is increasing awareness that not only whistle blowers, but the scientists they accuse of breaching research integrity, are vulnerable and deserve to be protected. Cases can be stressful and confusing as the accused usually do not receive institutional support. A system of independent ombudspersons is therefore necessary to complement the investigating commission to guarantee proper information, confidentiality and trust. Read more
• 28 Mar. 2018
  Reforming Finnish doctoral education in light of European developments | Jussi Kivistö, University of Tampere The latest reforms in Finnish doctoral education have been based on universities’ own initiatives rather than regulations of the state. The role of the European University Association and its Council for Doctoral Education in promoting the development of doctoral education has been a significant force providing input for the Finnish reforms, proving that autonomous universities can quickly take up European trends when developing doctoral education. Read more
• 28 Mar. 2018
  Inter-university collaboration: the case of FLAMES | Karen François, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

  Credits: Karen François

  FLAMES is an inter-university doctoral training network involving all five Flemish universities. It provides a structural, accessible, broad and high-quality course offer for young researchers needing methodological and statistical insight and skills. By taking advantage of complementary expertise, it builds synergies and turns competition into collaboration to optimise training for a future generation of researchers. Read more
• 28 Mar. 2018
  Presenting “The Doctoral Debate”: commentary and analysis on trends in doctoral education | Alexander Hasgall, EUA-CDE

  

  As EUA-CDE marks its 10th anniversary, we are pleased to offer a new forum for exchange. Doctoral education professionals, experts and academic leaders are invited to share their diverse perspectives and experiences in our rapidly-evolving field. Read more