New doctoral studies in Spain: progress and challenges for convergence with Europe

Abstract

The transformation of doctoral studies in Spain to suit the guidelines of the Espacio Europeo de Educacion Superior (European Higher Education Area) has brought, not without difficulties, a whole series of legislative changes which have as an objective to harmonize the doctoral training with European guidelines for internationalization. The current rules for PhD legislated under Royal Decree 99/2011, defines a new organizational structure and details the new features governing doctoral studies. In this paper we present the most relevant and significant changes that have been regulated for this formative stage, namely, the novelty of the creation of doctoral schools, the specialization of research training through the new doctoral programs, the training in research and knowledge transfer competencies, and the internationalization of doctoral training.