Regulations for the PhD education

The PhD-net [1] has read several Danish and international studies of the PhD education [2,3,4]. These studies, as well as the experience of the PhD-net, point to a series of problems with the current regulation of PhD education. The most important problems are presented here along with possible solutions. The problems are divided into two main groupings: " The profile of the PhD education " and " Regulations for the PhD education ". Under the current regulations, it is the purpose of the PhD education to produce researchers of international standard. They are expected to find employment in both Academia and industry research. The PhD-net supports this aim and expects that the PhDs will contribute to society in many different functions. From this perspective, we do however see a series of problems with the current structure of the PhD education. The current PhD education includes both a dissemination of knowledge obligation, wherein the PhD student is required to work for the institutes (mainly in the form of teaching or supervision of projects); and an obligation to participate in 30 points worth of courses. These two obligations constitute a combined workload of about one year (half a year each). As a consequence, only two years remain for the PhD project. The PhD-net regards this as problematic for the international competitiveness of Danish PhD students. The European University Association [5] in cooperation with Eurodoc (The European council for doctoral candidates and young researchers) [6] recommends that a PhD education consist of 3-4 years full time research [7]. It is uncertain whether Danish PhD projects, concluded in a timely manner, are in fact on an international level. Experience shows that the education is prolonged drastically at several Danish research facilities. On the other hand, the PhD-net acknowledges the need for acquiring competences other than those related purely to research. This is in line with the recommendations for a more flexible job market of Eurodoc. Unfortunately the student is only evaluated on the research project, and hence for many PhD students only research competence is guarantied. The three most important problems with the PhD profile according to the PhD-net are presented below.