The project Doctoral Education in Portugal: What Future?, developed by researchers at CIES-Iscte — Maria Teresa Patricio, Susana da Cruz Martins, João Mineiro (from CRIA), João M. Santos, Leonor Duarte Castro and Patricia Silva Santos — analyses the main changes, challenges and opportunities currently facing Portuguese higher education institutions in the implementation and development of doctoral programmes.

Text by Rita Alves

The research highlights the significant development of doctoral education in Portugal, both in terms of supply and demand. Over the past two decades, this cycle of studies has seen notable expansion, marked by the diversification of programmes and the broadening of student profiles, experiences and expectations regarding the doctoral journey.

The study also notes that many national reforms are aligned with European agendas and dynamics, reflecting a strategic convergence that contributes to the internationalisation and consolidation of doctoral education within the European Higher Education and Research Area. 

This work represents an important contribution to strategic reflection on the future of advanced training in Portugal, in a context of increasing academic complexity and demands.

The results of the project are now available in the published study, which brings together the main findings of this research.