PhD in Transition. Prospects and Opportunities

Abstract

Ministerial Decree no. 226 of 2021, issued as part of the initiatives entrusted by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) to the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), establishes innovative forms of doctoral programs and introduces new procedures for accreditation. This reform is not only aimed at increasing the number of PhD graduates and achieving some of the objectives set by the PNRR but also implies a new understanding of academic research. Considering also the international context, the article aims to assess the recent evolution of the doctoral program in Italy, highlighting opportunities, challenges, and prospects for higher education.