The HEA, in partnership with QQI and the Higher Education Institutions, launched Ireland’s National Framework for Doctoral Education in 2015. This sets out the main principles underpinning Irish doctoral education and is supported by the institutions and research funders. The National Framework for Doctoral Education Advisory Forum actively meets throughout the year to discuss new and innovative ways to expand on the Framework and ensure its standards and quality are kept at the highest levels.

In 2021, EUA Solutions presented the findings from their study ‘The National Framework for Doctoral Education in Ireland: Report on its Implementation by Irish Higher Education Institutions’ to the Advisory Forum. The study was commissioned by HEA, QQI, THEA and IUA to investigate the level of implementation of the NFDE, to identify examples of good practice within the sector, and to provide recommendations on further implementation and deepening the practice of provision. The team found that the framework was very well embedded internally in HEIs.

The NFDE Advisory Forum has developed a number of working groups to promote and develop the Doctoral Research landscape in Ireland. These working groups include; Research Career Profiles, Career Tracking and Postgraduate Student Engagement.

In 2022, it was decided by the Advisory Forum that a refresh of the principles contained in the current National Framework for Doctoral Education would be developed to reflect the changing research landscape. This refresh aims to be completed by early 2023.