Regulation and Incentives for Doctoral Supervision in Leading Universities: International and Russian Practices

The paper presents the results of an analysis of the regulation and incentivization of doctoral supervision in Russian doctoral education, using 111 universities participating in the Priority 2030 program as a case. The aim of the study is to identify the key features of the existing system and compare them with international practices. The empirical basis of this research consists of a content analysis of local regulatory documents coded across three blocks: eligibility criteria for serving as a supervisor, supervisors’ functions, and the evaluation and incentivization of their work. The findings show that, despite the existence of a basic regulatory framework, regulation remains fragmented. It is primarily focused on the initial stages of supervision and the final dissertation defense, while intermediate functions related to ongoing doctoral support often remain overlooked. The study reveals several imbalances: between the declared importance of doctoral supervision and the limited prevalence of performance monitoring and incentive measures; and between collective responsibility and individual sanctions in cases of low performance. Drawing on international experience, the article substantiates the need to develop instruments for the implementation of regulations, ranging from methodological guidelines to regular platforms for experience-sharing among supervisors. The study concludes that the current regulatory framework operates as a “black box” and, in the context of persistently low-quality supervision and growing heterogeneity of the doctoral student population, increases the risks of reduced effectiveness of doctoral education.