Evaluating law and policy in the context of doctoral mobility in the European Union

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

Abstract

Doctoral candidates, particularly in the natural sciences, are often expected to spend time abroad as part of their doctorate or even to complete the entire qualification in a host country. However the law and policy surrounding scientific mobility on the one hand and
student mobility on the other rarely consider doctoral candidates as a distinct group with specific issues and needs. As a result PhDs can fall between the gaps left by different legal and policy frameworks. Are they researchers or are they students? A more holistic approach would allow them to bridge the gaps creating a robust framework for mobility in European higher education and research. This thesis takes such a holistic approach examining in detail the legal provisions applying to doctoral candidates moving as EU migrant workers as well as those applying to EU migrant students. It considers whether using the EU citizenship provisions, a reconceptualisation of 'economic activity' as well as a different way of thinking about 'real links' with the host society might, in conjunction with the policies of the ERA as well as the EHEA, provide a rationale for extending rights to doctoral candidates as a distinct group of EU citizens. This would then allow them to
genuinely bridge the gap between different policies and provisions , rather than falling between them and would build one coherent framework for mobility in higher education and research.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • University of Liverpool
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluating law and policy in the context of doctoral mobility in the European Union'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this