The Doctoral Level in the Bologna Process

1

• The Doctoral Level in the Bologna Process
• Re-Form Seminar
• Coimbra, 14-16 April 2008
• Inge Knudsen

2
The Bologna Process from Berlin via Bergen to
London

• Berlin 2003
• The doctoral level as the link between research
  and education
• The Dublin descriptors (2004)
• Bergen 2005
• Strengthening of synergies
• Integration of the doctoral level based on
  outcomes-based approach
• normally 3-4 years
• Qualification Framework
• London 2007
• EUA Trends V report seminars and conferences on
  doctoral level research training as part of the
  preparations (2005-2006)
• Coimbra Group statement on doctoral programmes
  (19 January 2007)

3
EUA Conclusions 2006

• Preparatory Seminars (2005-6)
• Salzburg, February 2005 (The Ten Principles)
• Seminars in Brussels (March and October 2006)
• Nice Conference (December 2006)
• Study structures and access criteria are
  determined by the universities
• All doctoral programmes must contain independent
  research, to be assessed on the basis of a
  scientific thesis
• PhD students are defined as early stage
  researchers regardless of national titles
• All PhD students must have transferable skills
• The doctoral level needs sufficient funding
• gt 2008 Creation of Council for Doctoral
  Education

4
The Coimbra Groups Position Paper

• - Normally 4 years of study
• Main emphasis on normally decisions are up to
  the individual universities
• - Independent research with a thesis
• Regardless of the title of the PhD
• recommendation to have international supervisors
  and evaluators
• Access and assessment criteria are defined by the
  universities
• ECTS is not seen as relevant
• no automatic access from the master level
• Only universities can confer doctoral degrees
• With demands for quality assurance

5
Coimbra Group Task Force Doctoral Studies
Research

• Members from 18 CG universities
• Activities
• Mutual information
• Coordination of activities (e.g. Participation in
  projects)
• Joint activities Summer School
• Workshops ( research evaluation,
  university-enterprise co-operation, innovation)
• Statements (Position Papers, researcher mobility)
• Bi-/multilateral collaboration
• Doctoral Programmes Portal (2008)

6
DSR TF Summer School on Transferable Skills

• First Summer School Bergen, July 2007
• Theme Extreme Weather
• 25 participants from CG universities (selected by
  the home university)
• Concept
• Target group future researcher leaders
• 10-day residential seminar with presentations
  alternating with group work, individual written
  projects, training of project presentation skills
• Transferable/generic/complementary skills
  presented within a framework of a theme (Extreme
  Weather in 2007, Innovative Medicine and
  Emergent Technologies proposed as future
  themes)

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Issues for Discussion

• In how far can the outcomes-based approach be
  of use?
• - Apart from a couple of countries, there is no
  political support to ECTS or similar tools for
  the doctoral level
• The Berlin definitions versus the Bergen
  conclusions
• Berlin underlined the doctoral level as the link
  between education and research Bergen
  introduced the doctoral level as the third cycle
  of the learning structures. The London meeting
  did not change this, probably due to pressure
  from the universities.
• - There is now a tendency to define different
  types of doctorates to distinguish between
  academic, industrial and professional doctorates
  - versus the university view there is only one
  title.

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Useful Links

• Benelux Bologna Secretariat
• http//www.ond.vlaanderen.be/hogeronderwijs/bologn
  a/
• Bergen-Bologna Secretariat
• http//www.bologna-bergen2005.no/
• EUA Secretariat
• http//www.eua.be/
• Coimbra Group Office
• (with access to Doctoral Programmes Portal)
• http//www.coimbra-group.eu
• Bergen Summer School
• http//www.coimbra-group.be/08b_study_programmes.p
  hp