Doctoral programs across the globe face a myriad of challenges, and one particularly intricate puzzle involves the diverse landscape of their student body. This diversity spans across dimensions like age, socioeconomic background, motivation, and career aspirations, injecting a rich tapestry of perspectives into the academic realm. Despite these shifts, doctoral programs often find themselves grappling with the task of adapting swiftly to this evolving environment. In their study, Natalia Maloshonok and Saule Bekova delve into the fascinating concept of 'departmental climate' to unravel how Russian university doctoral students perceive their academic surroundings.