European developments in doctoral education current policy landscape

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European developments in doctoral education-
current policy landscape

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• Chris Hale, Policy Adviser

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About Universities UK

• 132 members- Principals and Vice- Chancellors.
• Essential voice of universities.
• Raise awareness and seek to influence across a
  number of key areas (UK and EU).
• Research policy- issues relating to the funding
  and management of research.
• Led by the Research Policy Committee (RPC)
  chaired by Professor Eric Thomas, Vice
  Chancellor, University of Bristol.

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Broad EU context and policy drivers

• Move towards a knowledge focused economy based
  on innovation driving new products and services.
• Increased focus on bolstering RD performance and
  enhancing high level skills.
• Central role of people and human resources in
  achieving this agenda. Researchers and RD
  personnel becoming centre stage.
• Increased international competition in globalised
  RD, particularly for human resources and an
  aging population.

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EU policy initiatives impacting on doctoral
programmes

• Bologna process (creation of a European Higher
  Education Area). Ongoing.
• European Research Area objective (internal market
  for RD). Recent Green Paper with key focus on
  researchers. Ambitious goals, stimulate reform.
• EUs HE modernisation agenda- aim is to stimulate
  structural reform with greater autonomy and
  resources.

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Bologna and doctoral programmes- about Bologna

• Aim- to create a European Higher Education Area
  by 2010.
• Series of ten action lines.
• Intergovernmental process (beyond EU 27) with
  decisions made at key summits and implemented
  through follow up work.
• 2003 Berlin summit new action line introduced on
  doctoral level qualifications (3rd cycle) to
  dovetail with ERA.
• EUA mandated with developing basic principles and
  initiates doctoral project. Further discussions
  in Salzburg and Nice culminating in decisions at
  London summit .

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Framework agreed at Nice and endorsed London 2007

• Structure and organisation- integration and
  transparency (recognition of importance of
  Graduate Schools) address fragmentation.
• Improve conditions, support career development
  and inter-sectoral mobility (link to Charter and
  Code). Concentrate PhD funding (?).
• Flexibility and autonomy in admissions.
• Enhancing internationalisation.
• Recognition of diversifying doctoral programmes
  (e.g. professional doctorates)- though still
  based on original research and outcomes focused.

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Framework agreed at Nice and endorsed London 2007

• Supervision monitoring and assessment...
  transparent contractual framework of shared
  responsibilities between candidates, supervisors
  and the institution
• multiple supervision, the continuous professional
  skills development of academic staff and
  performance reviews of supervisors use of
  external examiners.
• Importance of transferable skills and career
  development.
• Status and conditions of doctoral researchers-
  Doctoral candidates are early stage researchers
  who are vital to Europes development and...
  should have all commensurate rights.
• Funding doctoral researchers. The need for stable
  funding and greater coordination.

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Bologna 3rd cycle- what has happened since London
2007?

• At UK level, in many instances already aligned
  with the framework outlined in Nice.
• Early days, though ERA and other discussions give
  research new focus in EU policy.
• Bologna activities ongoing through Bologna follow
  up group.
• New EUA Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE)
  created, likely to become a key forum for future
  European discussions on doctoral education

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EUA-CDE- objectives

• Enhance the quality of doctoral education by
  fostering  debate and promoting the exchange of
  good practice
• To encourage and support the development of
  institutional policies and strategies and
  effective leadership and management practices
• To improve the availability of data and
  information on doctoral education in European
  universities
• To identify and monitor emerging trends in
  doctoral education
• To act as a representative voice of European
  universities on the issues of doctoral education
• To contribute to strengthening the international
  dimension of doctoral programmes
• To build and develop a strong link between
  education and research policies and strategies
  within Europe
• To promote the doctorate and doctorate holders as
  careers upon which to build a knowledge-based
  society

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European Research Area developments

• ERA Green Paper in 2007 with a key focus on
  researchers.
• Commission launched a European partnership for
  researchers in May 2005.
• Give further momentum to Charter and Code for
  researchers (being taken forward through new
  concordat in the UK).
• The Charter and Code aims to provide equal rights
  and obligations for individual researchers
  throughout Europe by specifying the roles,
  responsibilities and entitlements of researchers
  as well as those of funders and/or employers of
  researchers.
• Attempts to remove obstacles to mobility e.g.
  pensions issues.
• Reform of employment and working conditions in
  member states.
• Enhancing training, skills and experience.

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2006 Communication on the modernisation of
universities

• Promote geographical and inter-sectoral mobility
  .
• Greater access to and portability of loans and
  grants for study or do research .
• Bring procedures for the recognition of academic
  qualifications in line with those for
  professional qualifications and make European
  degrees more easily recognised outside Europe.
• Strengthen intellectual property management,
  entrepreneurship as part of a research career.
• Review national student fee and support schemes
  and systems for funding universities, to be more
  focused on outputs and give universities more
  responsibility for their own long-term financial
  sustainability, particularly in research.
• Create greater autonomy and accountability
  including more autonomy for recruitment.

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Issues going forward

• Convergent policy initiatives with own momentum
  and drivers, but is there coherence?
• Need for more joined up policies and synergies
  for implementation.
• Internal contradictions in EU policy e.g. want
  more autonomy, but increasingly directive in
  approach.
• Continued and concerted political commitment
  needed at national level and from HE sector,
  but...
• Is there over initiative on the policy side at EU
  level driven by politics, do we need to
  consolidate progress?
• Take agenda seriously, embed into strategies.
  Translating policy into practice (biggest
  challenge?).
• More money! (though demonstrate how it is being
  used).