Tools and good practices in doctoral mobility Erasmus Project

Project Title

Tools and good practices in doctoral mobility

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

Based on the Erasmus+ 2014-2020 programme, the DocMob project aimed to promote and encourage doctoral mobility.
The project was carried out in 3 phases.

1st phase (Nov. 2018 – May 2019): a survey was distributed to the Erasmus+ partners of the consortium. The objective was twofold: to understand how higher education institutions use Erasmus+ grants to manage doctoral mobility, and to help promote doctoral mobility in the Erasmus+ 2021-2022 programme.
During this phase, the partners drafted the first versions of the “learning agreement” and “transcript of records” adapted to doctoral mobility.

2nd phase (autumn 2019 – early 2020): following the results of the DocMob survey, qualitative interviews were conducted with staff (academic and administrative) and doctoral students from the project partners and from institutions outside the consortium. They helped the consortium to synthesise the specific needs of doctoral mobility stakeholders and to reflect on how the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme could meet them. Each partner carried out their interviews according to a common predefined grid but using a distinct methodology, this flexibility allowing for a broader approach to the issue.

3rd phase (spring-summer 2020): the results of the survey and interviews were analysed to develop guidelines and recommendations. The partners also agreed on the usefulness of comparing the modalities of Erasmus+ grants with other international and national funds offered to doctoral students. This comparison allowed to see how different funders could approach the issues identified by the DocMob consortium. The results of this comparison are presented in the project’s good practice manual, in its section “Alternatives to Erasmus+”.

For its work, the DocMob consortium has set up working groups, each led by a project partner, while opening up the possibility for others to become involved:
– Erasmus+ Interinstitutional Agreement; Universidad de Valencia
– Learning Agreement (LA)”; Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
– Transcript of Records (ToR)”; Universität des Saarlandes
– International Credit Mobility”: Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France.
– Design and production of the handbook of good practices and recommendations for doctoral student mobility: Université de Lorraine
– Quality assurance of the project: University of Porto
– Dissemination of results: European University Foundation

In addition, each partner was able to create working groups on DocMob themes, which in turn contributed to the overall project. Each institution proposed the number and profile of its participants, mainly staff from international relations departments, teachers supervising PhD students and PhD students.

The work of the groups was presented at transnational meetings, first face-to-face, then remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during these meetings that the direction of the work and the use of the results obtained were decided collectively.

The planned intellectual productions were completed, with the exception of the model Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement for doctoral mobility. Indeed, various elements of analysis have convinced the project partners that at postgraduate level, the obligation to establish such an agreement is more of a brake than a driving force, as it must provide for collective flows that are out of step with the individual nature of a doctoral mobility project. Nevertheless, the consortium has endeavoured, if such an agreement were to be imposed, to give recommendations so that it is adapted and provides for minimum clauses for the protection of scientific data resulting from mobility activities.
The consortium has drawn up model Learning Agreements and Transcripts of Records for doctoral mobility, and has provided specific guidance on their use.
The good practice handbook brought together the results of the project, as well as recommendations for the promotion and implementation of doctoral mobility in the Erasmus+ programme.
Beyond these outputs, the consortium proposed a matrix allowing institutions to exchange contact and procedural data concerning doctoral studies and doctoral mobility.

The impacts of the project are mainly:
– The development of doctoral student mobility through the facilitation of administrative procedures;
– The contribution to the implementation of a specific mobility for doctoral students in the new Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 154354 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE LORRAINE & Country: FR

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II
• EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION-CAMPUS EUROPAE
• UNIVERSITAT DES SAARLANDES
• UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA
• UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
• UNIVERSITE POLYTECHNIQUE HAUTS-DE-FRANCE