1. The Bologna Process Bergen, 19-20 May
Doctoral Studies and the Synergy between Higher Education and Research
Sybille Reichert, Zurich

2. Large Consensus on Values, Problems and Good Practice
There is a wide agreement on the values that should underpin doctoral training (advancement of knowledge through original research, academic freedom, research of value to economic and social advancement)
We know which problems have to be addressed:
Quality of mentoring has to be improved
Not enough embedding of doctoral training in institutional strategies and structures
Not enough attention to social and interdisciplinary integration of doctoral candidates (graduate schools)
Not enough attention to career development and preparation for non-academic labour markets
Not enough money to allow for adequate fellowships, scientific equipment, professorial time for mentoring

3. Consensus on Good Practice
European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers
Salzburg Recommendations on Doctoral Training
Embedding doctoral training in institutional strategies and policies
Recognising doctoral candidates as professionals, early stage researchers
Quality of mentoring
Achieving critical mass, promoting of innovative structures
Mobility
Appropriate funding
Good practice of doctoral training in the US
Synergy between Doctoral Education and Research
Active Graduate Schools, where the
Quality of Mentoring, established graduate “Plan of Study” Template,
Diverse and Competitive Funding Sources,
regular assessment of the quality of all doctoral programmes
Institutional Autonomy

4. Time for Action
Follow-up on how the European Charter for Researchers and the Salzburg Recommendations are being implemented at national and institutional level (European Commission, EUA)
Creating peer pressure while taking account of diverse conditions (Bologna success story)

5. Challenges to be addressed: Tensions between Ressearch for Competitiveness and Regional Development
Being internationally competitive in research and doctoral training (critical mass, concentration of excellence, interface between different disciplines)
Doing justice to the importance of university research as a motor for regional development
Comparison needed of how different nations and regions address this tension in order to make recommendations how to design complementary instruments for both concerns, at national and at European level
Proceed with caution