The aim of the project is to ensure closer connection of doctoral studies with research and to strengthen the internationally open environment in universities. The main tasks are to promote the quality of the doctoral thesis, increase the number of defended doctoral thesis, increase the proportion of academic staff with doctoral degrees at the Riga Stradins University (RSU) and the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LSPA) and increase the competitiveness of Doctoral study programmes through cooperation with the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI) and foreign academic staff, thus strengthening the academic staff of universities in the fields of strategic specialisation. The actions planned shall: Involvement of doctoral students in studies or scientific research on the basis of an employment contract, employment of foreign academic staff as teachers in the implementation of doctoral study programmes. As a result of the project 27 doctoral students and 3 foreign lecturers will receive support from the European Social Fund for work RSU, LASE and OSI. The total cost of the project is EUR 962041, of which EUR 817734.85 is co-financing from the European Social Fund and EUR 144306.15 from the state budget.Time of implementation 32 months, preliminary project start date 01 April 2021 to 30 November 2023.