EUA-CDE Annual Meetings as a Tool for Improving Doctoral Training Practice

Abstract

The study is devoted to the characteristics of the tools used by the Council for Doctoral Education of the European University Association (EUA Council for Doctoral Education) in order to improve the quality of doctoral education and training applicants for the degree of Doctor of philosophy in the context of European education reform. The article reveals the social and economic prerequisites for the creation of the Council for Doctoral Education, which regulates the activities of subjects of the European Research Area. The specifics of holding and the agenda of the annual meetings and conferences of the Council for Doctoral Education as a tool for spreading innovative experience and best practices of research institutions and higher educational institutions that train postgraduates and doctoral students are clarified. The main issues and problems considered by the participants of the meetings and conferences are outlined in order to promote the implementation of the main Salzburg Principles and Recommendations regarding doctoral education in the context of the Bologna Process. In particular, 10 main Salzburg Principles and Recommendations that serve as a benchmark for subjects of the European Research Area are considered. The main conditions for turning the annual meetings into the main forum for dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders on doctoral education issues are described. The features of the first annual meeting on doctoral education are defined, which sets out the platform, vision, mission and goals providing for the development and activation of the dialogue on reforming European doctoral education. The key areas of work of the Council for Doctoral Education are identified and characterized: in particular, changing the role of doctoral education and research training and a new vision of doctoral programs in the knowledge society; updating the practice and methods of research training (innovative organizational structures; training in transversal competencies, abilities; improving supervision, coordination; the introduction of new doctoral programs and degrees; joint doctoral programs; internationalization; interdisciplinary research; development of a research career at an early stage; cooperation with other stakeholders). The main goals of conferences held by the Council for Doctoral Education in order to identify trends in the development of doctoral training in the European Higher Education Area (EPVO) are defined, in particular, critical assessment of changes in doctoral training, identification and coordination of priority areas of activity of the Council for Doctoral Education in the coming years.