Listen the full discussion here
Participants included:
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Tea Vellamo, University of Tampere
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Jari Hämäläinen, Lappeenranta University of Technology
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Anda Gromova, Riga Technical University
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Heli Ruotsalainen, University of Oulu
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Pourya Pourhejazy, The Arctic University of Norway
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Maarja Kruusmaa, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)
Key Takeaways from the Discussion
1. PhDs Are Increasingly Needed—But for Industry, Not Just Academia
The panel emphasized that while the demand for PhD graduates is rising, the growth is not within academia but in industry. This shift calls for a reconsideration of how doctoral training prepares candidates for diverse career paths beyond traditional academic roles.
2. Beware of a Divided System
Creating separate tracks for academic and industry-focused PhDs could lead to unintended consequences. The speakers cautioned against compromising the quality or integrity of the PhD by diluting academic rigor for the sake of industry relevance.
3. Lack of Harmonization Hinders Collaboration
Unlike Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, which follow a unified structure across Europe, PhD programmes remain highly fragmented. This inconsistency makes it difficult to establish joint degrees, cotutelle agreements, and shared supervisory arrangements across countries.
4. Quality Over Quantity
Rather than expanding the number of doctoral programmes, the group advocated for fewer, but higher-quality offerings within NORDTEK countries. Focus should be placed on well-resourced, strategically aligned programmes that deliver strong research outcomes and career-readiness.
5. Reimagining PhD Supervision
A new generation of PhD supervisors is needed—individuals who not only possess strong research credentials but also understand pedagogy and student psychology. Effective supervision should be seen as a teaching role, not just a managerial task.
