The European Doctorate Dr Thomas Ekman Jrgensen EDAMBA

The European Doctorate Dr Thomas Ekman Jørgensen EDAMBA Annual Meeting 2009 Warsaw School of Economics

What is the European Doctorate – really? Four criteria (original wording): ü The Ph. D thesis defence will be accorded [recognised] if at least two professors from two higher education institutions two European–countries, other than the Languageofrequirement one where thesis is defended, have given their review of the manuscript; Not uncommon, varies with discipline ü At least one member the jury should come from a higher education institution Mobilityofminimum – in another European other the one, where thesis is defended; averagecountry, minimum is than about ⅓ of the study period (max 1 for allmust cycles) ü A part of the ½ defence take place in one of the official languages, other than the one(s) of the country, where thesis is defended; Jury requirements – very common also in other ü The thesis must partly have been prepared as a result of a research period of at programmes least one trimester spent in another European country. 1 Kuder, Matthias & Daniel Obst (2009) Joint and Double Degree Programs in the Transatlantic Context, Institute of International … 2… Education p. 23

Is it a joint programme? Strictly speaking, no: ü The criteria does not directly speak of formal, institutional arrangements – it could theoretically be based exclusively on the personal network of the supervisor ü There are no requirements of integrated structures or common curriculum development It is however used as the basis for a number of joint programmes … 3…

Advantages Almost 20 years of use – in itself a success ü A part of the European doctoral landscape Transparent, comparable degree ü Guarantees a well-defined international (European) element in the doctoral programme Recognition ü Informally recognised by those that know the title ü ’Cultural capital’-element in cultures with traditional use of complex, hierarchical systems of titles or that value systems with centralised guarantees … 4…

Disadvantages Too much procedure, not enough content ü The real important issues of the actual outcome are not dealt with (EUA’s ´Golden rules for new joint masters programmes’) ü No definition of the actual added value beyond the title Not enough procedure where you need it ü No mention of quality assurance ü The Confederation of European Union Rectors’ Conferences that made the criteria does no exist anymore, leaving the title in ‘limbo’ in terms of formal recognition – anyone can call their programme a European Doctorate … 5…

Does the European Doctorate solve pressing problems? What are institutions concretely struggling with? ü The ’parchment problem’ – legal recognition of joint or dual degrees ü Recognition – transparent quality assurance and accreditation procedures ü Institutional differences ü Funding ü Sustainability ü Globalisation The European Doctorate provides a well-established, working model for exchange, but does not contain a complete model for a joint programme … 6…

Thank you for your attention www. eua. be/cde … 7…