With the aim of understanding the perception and positioning of employers and PhD candidates at U.Porto about the employability and career management of PhD candidates and PhD holders, we implemented a consultation process in collaboration with FPCEUP that counted with the participation of 380 PhD candidates and 52 employers (October 27 - November 23, 2021).
Our results showed that:
Candidates emphasised the importance of bridging academia and the job market, while employers stressed the value of practical experience for PhD holders. Employers highly regard PhD holders who have worked on projects or completed their PhDs in collaboration with the business sector, given the importance of their contributions to research and business development.
These results are supported by various publications from international organisations and entities. Check below some articles and studies that evidentiate that:
UP Doctoral Careers is an initiative stemming from the PhD Career Design project, initiated in 2021. It involved a technical team comprising members from various units within the University of Porto, including the Talent and Career Centre, Work Psychology Consulting Service, FEUPs Talent Unit, ICBAS Student Support, Employability and Alumni Office, I3S, and the Teaching and Learning Laboratory. Additionally, it was supported by the Portuguese funding "Skills for a Next Generation U.Porto" (Upskilling U.Porto) under POCH-I2-2022-01 Post Covid Competition - Skills for the Future in Higher Education”. Now, it is run by contributions from representatives of U.Porto's Organic Units, Research Centers, PhD candidates, holders, advisors, course directors, companies, and institutions. Furthermore, it is supported by the EUGLOH network and the DocTalent4EU project.
