On 15 and 16 January 2026, the University of Liège hosted the “2026 EUA-CDE Thematic Workshop – Doctoral education for the future of European R&I”, a high-level meeting organised by the Council for Doctoral Education (CDE) of the European University Association (EUA). This event brought together university leaders, experts and decision-makers from across Europe in Liège to discuss the policies and funding that will shape doctoral education and, more broadly, the future of research and innovation in Europe.
For ULiège, host of the 2026 edition, this is a source of institutional pride and sends a strong signal: doctoral education is a key lever for strengthening European scientific capacity, supporting innovation and preparing the generations of researchers who will contribute to major scientific transitions. The workshop programme comes at a pivotal moment, with discussions underway on the next generation of European programmes, the successors to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ for 2028-2034, and a major initiative expected in 2026 with the European Research Area Act.
At the official opening, Rector Anne-Sophie Nyssen reiterated that European ambition in research cannot be achieved without an equivalent ambition in training: a PhD is not just a degree, but a period of rigour, creativity, learning scientific integrity and developing essential skills in the service of society.
These words are reflected in the attention paid by ULiège to its more than 2,000 researchers enrolled in a doctoral training programme. ULiège ensures that this journey is supportive and stimulating: doctoral student networks, skills development (including soft skills), meetings and shared work at the PhD House, mentoring, etc.
Through plenary sessions, panels and workshops, the meeting addressed topics directly related to the daily life of doctoral research: the role of European programmes in “unlocking the potential” of doctoral studies, the evolution of research policies, the place of artificial intelligence, research security, evaluation and career reform, and the contribution to sustainable development goals and European competitiveness.
Highlights included an opening plenary session with presentations by Dirk Inzé (European Research Council) and Magda de Carli (European Commission), a presentation of the results of a 2025 EUA-CDE European survey on doctoral policies, a detailed overview of funding opportunities, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), and a presentation on the role of humanities and social sciences in Horizon Europe.
During the workshop, ULiège and the EUA paid tribute to Stéphane Berghmans, a graduate in veterinary medicine from ULiège and a leading figure in the EUA, where he was Director of Research. He recently passed away, and his career illustrates what European doctoral training can achieve: scientific excellence, a sense of service and commitment to the academic community.
Press release from the Council of Rectors dated February 4, 2026.
This new report highlights not only the remarkable dynamism of the academic community, but also the significant progress made during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Press release from the Council of Rectors dated January 26, 2026.
