Doctoral School

First European Doctoral Day: UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya takes action

Apr 14, 2026

UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 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 university 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.

UPC Universitat Politècncia de Catalunya is part of this movement.

UPC has organized the first edition of the research photography contest “Scientific Perspectives: Research in Images”, open to doctoral candidates from all disciplines. The contest awards prizes for the best photographs, with one winning image selected per thematic area, highlighting different dimensions of doctoral research.

The initiative aims to showcase research in action by combining scientific quality, originality, and outreach impact. The awarded photographs will receive a cash prize, and the winners will receive their prizes during the event held on 13 May. The winning images will be permanently exhibited at the Doctoral School and will also be published and disseminated through UPC institutional channels.

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