Donetsk, Jul 13 — DAN. More than 140 research scholars in the Donetsk People’s Republic have been awarded the highest academic degree since 2015, said the press service of the DPR Education and Science Ministry.

“Over the period from 2015 through 2022, academic degrees were conferred on 600 candidates, ” the press service told the Donetsk News Agency. “Ph.D and Doctor habil. degrees were granted to 473 and 127 scholars, respectively.”

In 2023, academic degrees were conferred on 32 candidates who presented their theses late last year.  In the first quarter of this year, 34 candidates successfully presented their Ph.D. theses, and another 12 defended their habilitation theses, the Ministry said.

Under the Russian government resolution which came in effect in March 2023, Thesis Boards send thesis papers to the Russian Ministry of Higher Education and Science which has the last word in the decision to confer a degree or reject a thesis.

Previously, there were 31 Thesis Boards in the Republic compared to 17 at present. *jk