PhD in Electrical and Information Engineering in Europe: Towards a harmonization including LifeLong Learning

In the frame of the thematic networks devoted to the development of LifeLong Learning (LLL) in Europe, the ELLEIEC project, more especially focused on the Electrical and Information Engineering, the situation of PhD students in Europe was analyzed with the goal to highlight the differences that remain in Europe about the delivery of diploma and the adequacy of the academic institution regulations to the prior learning validation at this level. A questionnaire submitted to all the members of this network allowed an overview on 23 European countries was obtained. This paper tries to highlight the several aspects of the status and proposes recommendations in order to make easier the mobility and exchange in Europe at PhD level as well the recognition of prior studies to make suitable the LLL. On the base of the analysis, some recommendations within the global approach of Higher Education in Europe are emitted.