European universities adapt to new era: EUA-CDE survey reveals resilience amid geopolitical and AI shifts

A report from the European University Association Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE), published on 15/01/2026, highlights how Europe’s higher education sector is navigating a "dynamic and potentially challenging policy environment" shaped by rapid technological acceleration and shifting global security.

Based on a survey of 217 universities across 37 countries, the report, titled “Policies in doctoral education: navigating geopolitical change and technological acceleration while advancing Europe’s society and competitiveness,” provides a baseline for how institutions are evolving 20 years after the landmark Salzburg Principles (established in the Bologna Process as the basis of the reforms for doctoral education).

The report underscores that doctoral education acts as a "linchpin in the formation of future researchers and innovators," which is essential for enhancing Europe’s Research and Innovation (R&I) base.

Authors Simon Marti and Ana-Maria Peneoasu argue that the current era is defined by "fundamental geopolitical change and technological acceleration", both of which have…