Policies in doctoral education: navigating geopolitical change and technological acceleration while advancing Europe’s society and competitiveness

This publication presents the second set of findings from the 2025 EUA-CDE survey. With 217 universities from 37 countries participating, this survey report looks at a wide range of policies at the institutional and European level that have gained importance for doctoral education in recent years, especially in a changed security context and in light of the rise of artificial intelligence.

In particular, the report explores how universities contribute to advancing European society and competitiveness, through collaboration with societal actors at doctoral level. As such, it offers universities and stakeholders insights into themes such as academic freedom at doctoral level and institutional approaches to research security in doctoral education.

Furthermore, the report covers the adoption and use of AI as well as the policies and perspectives of doctoral schools in reforming research assessment and careers. And importantly, it addresses a topic at the centre of current European research policy discussions: perspectives and expectations on the next generation of European research and innovation programmes for the period 2028-2034.

This publication is an important resource for universities and stakeholders who wish to gain insights into current policies in doctoral education across Europe. The survey findings will also inform the future work of EUA-CDE, helping to support its members in advancing and reinforcing their doctoral education capacity.

Policies in doctoral education: navigating geopolitical change and technological acceleration while advancing Europe’s society and competitiveness

Simon Marti and Ana-Maria Peneoasu

Download