DocMob

The DocMob project looked at how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) implement and manage PhD mobilities through the Erasmus+ programme with the aim of improving the doctoral mobilities funding scheme and make it fit for purpose in the new Erasmus programme period (2021-2027).

DocMob proposes a new approach to PhD mobility. An approach that takes into account both the educational component, skills and research component of the mobility programme. Where the current learning agreement templates fail to capture the essence of the work of a PhD candidate, considered both as a student (education & training) and researcher, the new proposed DocMob learning agreement templates (before and during/after) tend to fill this gap. Furthermore, a matrix (instruction and templates) for higher education institutions to self-assess their local/national doctoral landscape and identify areas of improvements has been developed.

While the consortium has been testing these templates,, the European Commission has been asked to take DocMob policy recommendations into account when designing the new Erasmus programme.

Last but not least, the consortium has investigated alternative funding opportunities for PhD mobility. The results of this research and a doctoral mobility funds summative document are freely available and tend to propose additional funding schemes, either country or HEI specific, to enable doctoral mobility and international knowledge transfer. It is important to underline that having a dedicated mobility strand for doctoral candidates in the Erasmus+ would allow to better take into account their situation/needs.

Project partners: Université de Lorraine, Universitat De Valencia, Universitat Des Saarlandes, Universidade Do Porto, Universita Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico Ii, Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambresis, European University Foundation