Seat Brussels, Belgium Working Language English | Founded in 2005 (2002) Homepage http//eurodoc.net/ | |
Members 32 national organisations President Margaux Kersschot, Belgium | ||
Eurodoc, the European Council for Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers, is an international federation of 32 national associations of doctoral candidates and early career researchers (pre-doctoral or post-doctoral researchers employed on a temporary basis) of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
Contents
As a volunteer, non-profit organisation, Eurodoc monitors the situation of early career researchers in Europe with respect to different parameters (e.g. mobility, working conditions, employment opportunities, career paths, doctoral supervision and training).
Eurodoc issues policy statements and provides recommendations to academic, corporate and governing institutions on subjects of special relevance to European doctoral candidates and junior researchers (e.g., the Bologna Process or the Lisbon Strategy). In this activity, Eurodoc is in regular contact with major stakeholders in European research and higher education policy, most notably with the Directorate-General for Research (European Commission), and the European University Association.
Each year in Spring, Eurodoc convenes an international conference. The aim of this conference is to provide a framework for doctoral candidates and junior researchers to meet with European political and economical leaders and to engage in a fruitful discussion on the construction of the European Research and Higher Education Area.
The first Eurodoc Survey was conducted from December 2008 until May 2011. It analyses the current situation of 7561 doctoral candidates in twelve countries (Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden), and provides input for policy recommendations at the European level.
History
In 2001 several members of national organisations representing early career researchers met at a conference in Uppsala organized by Sweden in the course of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union. They recognised the urgent need to establish a European-wide organisation for doctoral candidates and junior researchers and took the occasion to initiate a network of national organisations. Following these efforts, Eurodoc was founded in Girona in Spain on 2 February 2002. Finally Eurodoc was legally established in 2005 in Brussels as an international non-profit organisation.
In a meeting of ministers responsible for higher education in Berlin in 2003, doctoral programmes were first mentioned in the Bologna Process setting. Since then, Eurodoc has been playing an active role in pertinent Bologna seminars and projects. Its involvement in the Bologna Process has been formally acknowledged in 2007 by the formal status of "partner" to the Bologna Process follow-up group. In addition, Eurodoc has been involved and provided input for the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area.
Members and observers
There are 32 member organisations representing young researchers from 32 countries of the European Union and the Council of Europe. These are the members which conduct Eurodoc's decisions. In addition, contributions to Eurodoc's activities also include observers as national representatives.
Objectives
Eurodoc envisions a European Research Area and European Higher Education Area in which doctoral candidates and junior researchers are duly recognised and respected for the essential roles they play in the research community. Eurodoc seeks to represent and consolidate the community of doctoral candidates and junior researchers in Europe in their pursuit of a dignified career and a worthy professional life.