Date added: 2025-06-11
EUA-CDE 2025 Annual Meeting: Gdańsk Tech at the Forefront of Doctoral Education in Europe
This year’s meeting was particularly meaningful, as it marked 20 years since the introduction of the Salzburg Principles - a transformative framework that redefined doctoral education across Europe. These principles, first published in 2005 and updated in 2010, helped shape a vision of the doctorate as research-embedded, institutionally supported, and responsive to the evolving needs of society.
Throughout the three-day program, participants reflected on how doctoral education has changed - and how it must continue to evolve. Topics ranged from supervision models, transferable skills, and international collaboration to academic freedom, research assessment reform, and career development beyond academia.
Prof. Bagiński and Ms. Gurczyńska actively participated in discussions and workshops, and particularly appreciated:
- The presentation of the preliminary results from the new EUA-CDE survey, Doctoral education in Europe today, providing valuable comparative data on current practices and challenges,
- Engaging sessions on collaborative doctoral programs, PhD supervision, knowledge security, responsible internationalisation, and institutional autonomy,
- Institutional case studies, such as the Estonian doctoral reform, showcasing the power of inter-university collaboration in shaping national policy and implementation,
- And, importantly, the strong sense of community and shared purpose that defines the EUA-CDE network.
In addition to the packed conference agenda, the Gdańsk Tech team made time to enjoy Lausanne - its Olympic spirit, panoramic views, and steep terrain left a lasting impression, and Lavaux vineyards. As always, informal conversations - during coffee breaks, dinners, and walks between venues - proved just as valuable as the official sessions.
The insights and energy gathered during the EUA-CDE 2025 Annual Meeting will directly support the ongoing internationalisation and development strategy of the Doctoral School at Gdańsk University of Technology.
With gratitude for this year’s experience, both delegates are already looking forward to the 2026 edition of the conference - set to take place in Galway, Ireland.