Analysis of the management process of doctoral training in three Cuban universities

Abstract

Doctoral training is the integrating nucleus not only of substantive university processes (teaching, research and extension) but also of the different forms of postgraduate and guarantor of university quality and, especially, of higher education graduates; hence the need to achieve a more efficient and effective management of this process. The objective of this paper is to identify the factors that limit the management of the doctoral training process at the University of Pinar del Río "Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca", the University of Cienfuegos and the University of Oriente. Empirical and theoretical research methods were used, as well as the integration of quantitative-qualitative methods and techniques (interview, survey), whose results were triangulated to make the final assessments. The main barriers that limit the management of the doctoral training process in the universities studied are: there is no systematic monitoring of the doctoral training strategy in the areas/departments; lack of objectivity in preparing the doctoral training plan; insufficient communication between the faculty of the doctoral program and the immediate superiors of the doctoral students; little feedback with doctoral program coordinators and doctoral committees; The alliances established between the tutors of different administrative areas/institutions based on the progress of the doctoral student in their research process are not enough; The organization of doctoral students and tutors in research groups and projects is still insufficient; as well as the actions that are carried out based on the internationalization of doctoral training.