First European Doctoral Day: Arqus takes action!

Arqus is proud to participate in the first European Doctoral Day, a continent-wide initiative that will be held annually on May 13 starting in 2026, during Europe Month. Our Alliance firmly believes that science and research are fundamental European values, with the doctoral degree serving as both a gateway and a key driver of progress. As part of this effort, we are organizing a dedicated event.

On May 13, 2026, Europe will mark the inaugural European Doctoral Day, an initiative launched in 2026 and set to become an annual event. This day aims to highlight the pivotal role of PhD holders and of doctoral education in driving scientific excellence, innovation, and societal progress – both within academia and beyond.

This day complements initiatives like Choose Europe for Science to increase Europe’s attractiveness to early career researchers and is designed to:

• Inspire European and international students to pursue doctoral education,
• Increase employers’ awareness and recognition of doctoral qualifications,
• Showcase the diverse career paths and societal contributions of doctoral graduates.

In addition to affirming the value of doctoral education in Europe, this day celebrates what unites Europeans in doctoral education – the PhD and the “Humboldtian” research-based training model were born in Europe – the range and variety of PhD opportunities in Europe and the rich cultural and intellectual diversity of the continent’s scientific landscape. Originally a French initiative, European academic networks representing the doctoral community across the continent have mobilized to organize this first edition.

A coordination committee has reviewed and labelled event proposals submitted by institutions. The enthusiasm of European universities has been confirmed, with over 170 labelled events taking place across Europe, in France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Romania, UK, Ukraine etc. These events, registered on the Eurodocday.org platform, are hosted by institutions within the EU and beyond.

Arqus is part of this movement. Take a look at the two sessions we have organised:

The challenge of mobility in the development of doctoral journeys

13 May 2026 – 10:00–11:30 CEST – Online

Moderator: Giuseppe Scarsi, Projects and Mobility Office at the University of Padua

Inputs: Stéphane Daniele (University of Lyon 1, Vice-Rector for Doctoral Studies) and Mireille van Poppel (University of Graz, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and Equal Opportunities)

Shaping tomorrow’s talent

13 May 2026 – 09:00–16:00 CEST – Hybrid – Salle Fontannes, Campus de la Doua, Lyon 1

09:00 – 12:00 – Presentation of the work of MSCA-COFUND ArchiFun Doctoral Fellows (hybrid)
13:00 – 15:00 – lunch break and networking around a poster session (on-site only)
15:00 – 16:00 – Round Table: “Shaping Tomorrow’s Talent: How European Excellence Programmes and European Universities Alliances Can Transform Doctoral Selection and HR Policy” (hybrid)

Explore the map of labelled events on Eurodocday.org

List of the networks involved in the coordination committee:

• Coimbra Group – Europe’s oldest university network
• European University Association – Council for Doctoral EducationEuraxess network
• Eurodoc – European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers
• FOREU4ALL – An initiative of the European University Alliance
• League of European Research Universities – Doctoral Studies Policy Group
• MCAA – The Marie Curie Alumni Association
• Pride Network – The European network for professionals in doctoral education
• ANDES – Association Nationale des Docteurs
• French ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space