Doctoral drive

You rightly refer to the growing attention being paid to doctoral training at European level "Europe to streamline doctorate courses" (September 3).

You did not, however, mention that much of the impetus is coming from universities and doctoral students across Europe. For example, the seminar mentioned - to be held in Salzburg in February 2005 - is co-organised by the European University Association and the Austrian and German ministries, with the strong involvement of the European Association of Doctoral Students (Eurodoc). Discussions will be based on the EUA Doctorates Programme project, (involving 49 universities in 32 countries), which aims to identify what makes a successful doctoral programme.

Lesley Wilson
Secretary-general
European University Association