HayKa: Toward Better Organization of Malagasy Doctoral Programs

[Article] - Published on May 15, 2023 in Doctoral and HDR Programs, Internships and Careers, Erasmus+ Training Projects, University

Coordinated by the University of Montpellier and carried out in collaboration with six Malagasy universities, the University of Mons in Belgium, and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), the HayKa project aims to improve interdisciplinary training and enhance the employability of doctoral students in Madagascar. It is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ program with a budget of 700,000 euros over a three-year period.

 “The project focuses on 10 key areas, ranging from overall management to interdisciplinarity, including training for doctoral programs and instructors, partnerships with the private sector, the use of digital tools, project management and internationalization, quality assurance, and communication,” explains Marc Bouvy, the project’s scientific coordinator and emeritus research director atIRD.

Last February, nearly 30 researchers from 9 doctoral schools and 6 universities gathered in Antananarivo, Madagascar, for the kickoff meeting of the HayKa project. Over the course of five days, a collaborative approach was adopted to explore all areas of focus and develop an action plan for the next three years.

Improving the quality of doctoral education 

HayKa includes a multi-level training process designed to improve the quality of doctoral education. Specifically, the project aims to develop doctoral students’ soft skills and practical abilities in addition to their scientific knowledge, particularly in areas such as communication, stress management, leadership, and emotional intelligence.“ This step is essential for the personal and professional development of future researchers, as it allows them to strengthen their mastery of cross-disciplinary skills and better showcase their competencies to employers ,” explains Marc Bouvy.

Professors will play a key role Professors and will receive training in doctoral supervision through two sessions scheduled for 2024. This program aims to train approximately thirty supervisors per year, as well as administrative and technical staff from doctoral schools, to ensure better support for doctoral students. In addition, directors of doctoral schools, administrative and technical staff, and Professors in a study visit to the University of Montpellier in 2025 to discuss best practices to implement and identify opportunities to enhance the quality of doctoral training.

Build a strong network between companies and recent graduates 

In May, the University’s Joint Service for Information, Career Guidance, and Professional Integration (SCUIO-IP) will launch a survey aimed at identifying issues related to doctoral education. The purpose of this survey is to collect data on holders of a Malagasy doctorate, whether they are currently enrolled in the program or have graduated within the past five years. “During the launch workshop, the discussions were very enriching, demonstrating the strong commitment of the partners who have fully invested themselves in the project. More than 550 people, including 300 doctoral students and over 250 PhD holders, are involved in this study,” notes Elliott Cholet, project manager at UM’s International Relations Office. This survey will ultimately enable an analysis of their academic trajectories, their post-graduation professional situations, as well as their aspirations regarding training and support for professional integration.

Hayka also plans to organize events to boost the employability of future PhD graduates in Madagascar, such as Doctoriales®, PhD student-business matchmaking events, and a summer school, as well as the creation of a platform dedicated to PhD studies and the sharing of professional resources. “Several local companies have already expressed interest in future events by submitting letters of intent, and a network of professionals is currently being established to ensure the project’s success, ” concludes Elliott Cholet.     

Keywords: doctoral students, Doctoral programs, Training, HayKa, International, Research