In a new report, the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy examines whether the Danish PhD programme remains fit for purpose. The regulatory framework governing the programme has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s, when there was a clear need to harmonise PhD education across disciplines and institutions. The Council argues that the time has come to introduce greater flexibility into the programme.
The report is available in danish here
The report is structured around three key questions: how to ensure that the Danish PhD programme provides sufficient scope for risk-taking and creativity, supports entrepreneurship, and prepares candidates for careers beyond public research institutions. To address these questions, the Danish Council for Research and Innovation Policy (DFIR) drew on existing research and analyses, conducted a survey among PhD candidates, carried out an open consultation process following the Council’s annual conference, and interviewed 19 key stakeholders from universities, foundations, and employers.
Based on its analysis, the Council presents a set of recommendations on how the PhD programme can be adapted to better support creativity, entrepreneurship, and intersectoral mobility. In line with practices in several other European countries, DFIR recommends decentralising responsibility for the design and content of the programme to a greater extent. At the same time, the Council has sought to strike a balance between strengthening the transition to careers outside universities while preserving the programme’s other important objectives.
