STAFF WEEKS

Double Doctorates: Strategies and Alignment

About

Summary

During this staff week, we will share experiences and exchange best practices in fostering international collaboration through double doctorate (cotutelle or double degree PhD) projects. The ENLIGHT central working group on Double Doctorate collaboration is looking at aligning the PhD regulations of our universities. But what are our experiences so far? And if we increase double doctorate collaboration within ENLIGHT, what can we expect? In this staff week, we will share our universities’ strategies, experiences and identify opportunities among ENLIGHT partners for pursuing this form of collaboration, as well as challenges that may be expected. Ultimately, the goal of this staff week is to learn from each other about the best ways to set-up and implement double doctorate projects and to identify promising double doctorate connections within ENLIGHT.

Dates and format

Training dates:	14, 15 and 16 April 2026
Application deadline:	25 January 2026
Format and length:	Three days onsite

Target group

ENLIGHT colleagues representing their central (graduate) offices or who are familiar with central regulations on their university’s strategy on international (PhD) research collaboration and related administrative matters and funding schemes. E.g. policy advisors internationalization/graduate studies, graduate school officials, legal experts with knowledge on (local) PhD regulations as well as strategy. If two colleagues from the same university participate, the mentioned expertise can of course be shared among them.

NB This staff week is not intended for PhD supervisors who are looking to set up a double doctorate project.

Programme

Preliminary programme

Day 1
Morning	Introduction to the University of Groningen (UG) ENLIGHT and double doctorates Ice breaker Coffee break UG presentations on double doctorate collaboration: UG strategy and successes Double doctorates A Faculty Perspective on Double Doctorates Lessons learned: Examples of collaborations that did not work out
Afternoon	Lunch Participant presentations Each attending university gives a brief presentation on their university’s experience with- and strategy for international collaboration in PhD projects. Presenters share what their goals are for this staff week in the context of said strategy. Q&A Dinner
Day 2
Morning	Look back on day 1 (takeaways) & forward to day 2 Double doctorate funding Coffee break Group sessions Group sessions to exchange information on opportunities and hurdles related to double doctorate collaboration as experienced by the participating universities. Each group presents findings to all participants. (Come up with concrete suggestions for solutions! Dream!)
Afternoon	-Lunch Participant presentations Brief presentation (1 slide) by each university on their internal organization around PhDs and double doctorates. Coffee break Mini talkshow: Double doctorate scientific matchmaking UG City tour
Day 3	The candidate’s experience The experience of a PhD candidate in a double doctorate project is different from other candidates. What type of issues come up? Coffee Mini talk show: the double doctorate journey Interview with stakeholders: supervisor, candidates, graduate school Group sessions: improve the double doctorate experience What can be changed in our university to improve the double doctorate experience? What can be done in terms of (cultural) expectation management? How can you better inform academic staff of double doctorate opportunities? Report back to the whole group. Lunch Share participant experience during the staff week Each participant shares to what extent their personal goal for the staff week has been met and what they will try to implement/change at their university based on this staff week. End at 3pm at the latest.

Contact person:	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Accommodation:	Participants will arrange their own accommodation.
Additional information:	Read about Groningen.