DocSoc360° -Doctoral education pilot

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral School of Social Services  (DocSoc360°) is a doctoral education network formed by seven Finnish universities and is part of an extensive national reform of doctoral education.

The aim of the pilot is to strengthen social services based on research. The network connects researchers in social work, social policy, education, health sciences, administrative sciences, management, law and communications to examine social services in a multidisciplinary way and from several perspectives.

Funding for the doctoral pilot enables hiring 34 full-time doctoral researchers for the period 2025–2027.

The DocSoc360° doctoral pilot is part of doctoral education pilots funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture between 2024 and 2027 in which new practices in doctoral education are experimented with in Finland. The aim of the pilots is to increase the mobility of doctoral candidates between universities, companies and other organisations, and to encourage doctoral candidates to engage in diverse research careers.
Universities participating in the DocSoc360° pilot

• University of Helsinki
  
• University of Eastern Finland
  
• University of Jyväskylä
  
• University of Lapland (coordinating university)
• University of Oulu
  
• Tampere University
  
• University of Vaasa

Further information about the research profiles and open calls of the pilot universities.

The DocSoc360° aims to discover new types of solutions for implementing doctoral education in university cooperation.

In the pilot, change is sought for the following aspects:

• Research culture: The pilot fosters a research culture of close collaboration and research as part of a research team. The dissertations are part of the research projects at the universities, and existing research designs and materials are used as resources. There will be close cooperation with business life actors.
  
• Theoretical change: Social services research is examined as a theme that demands a cross-disciplinary approach in a research environment that supports multidisciplinarity.
  
• Methodological change: The pilot commits to sharing expertise related to research methodology and research methods with doctoral researchers to promote the understanding and application of different methods.
  
• Pedagogical change: The doctoral degree and doctoral dissertation are completed in a structured programme and in close cooperation with supervisors and other doctoral researchers.
  
• Temporal change: A clear, structured programme and regular thematic group meetings and courses support the completion of the degree
  
• Procedural change: The time required for the completion of doctoral dissertations will be shortened by intensifying supervision and reforming the curriculum for doctoral degrees.
  

The pilot to be implemented between 2025 and 2027 and the compilation of the work of 34 doctoral researchers will prepare doctoral researchers for multidisciplinary and multi-professional cooperation, producing an extensive research-based and practical competence base for the organisation and development of research-based social services.

The central, actual operating method of the pilot is forming thematic groups and multidisciplinary thematic groups. The education of the doctoral researchers and research guidance will mainly be implemented in these groups.

The theme groups will be formed on the basis of research topics. Each group will have several doctoral researchers and supervisors from different universities and business life mentors. They will meet regularly approximately once a month during the academic years.

In addition, the pilot will organise joint national events and courses that constitute the theoretical and methodological studies required for the doctoral degree. Post-doctorate careers and the possibility of diverse career paths are a particular focus.

The pilot offers a unique opportunity for the implementation of a doctoral dissertation within social services:

• High-quality multidisciplinary and multi-methodic cooperation
  
• National and international networking with leading researchers in the field and other doctoral researchers from seven Finnish universities
  
• In active dialogue with actual actors in business life and the service system and the implementation of research needs that meet practical needs.
  
• A clear, structured study and guidance structure in which the completion of a doctoral degree and doctoral dissertation in three years is possible. Close theme group work supports the progress of the education and the development of the doctoral researchers' competence and networking with other researchers, doctoral researchers and business life actors in the field.

The doctoral pilot will employ 34 doctoral researchers for a three-year employment relationship between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2027. The employment relationship is made with the university to which the doctoral researcher is selected and where they complete the doctoral degree. The doctoral candidate's right to complete a doctoral degree at the university in question may be granted at the earliest on 1 November 2023.

Doctoral researchers are expected to work actively as full-time student on their dissertation, as well as to commit to education events, seminars and guidance organised by the pilot. The events are organised at the university premises of the consortium and remotely.

Professor Merja Laitinen
Doctoral pilot director
University of Lapland, Faculty of Social Sciences

Katri-Maria Järvinen
DocSoc360 Doctoral pilot coordinator, D.Soc.Sc.
University of Lapland, Doctoral School

Further information and enquiries:
Docsoc360 [a] ulapland.fi 

 

Steering board of DocSoc360:

 
Professor Helena Blomberg-Kroll
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences 

Assistant professor Maija Jäppinen
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences

Professor Johanna Lammintakanen
University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

Professor Timo Toikko
University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies

Professor Teppo Kröger
University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care (CoE AgeCare)

Professor Heli Valokivi
University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor Merja Laitinen
University of Lapland, Faculty of Social Sciences

Professor Sanna Hautala
University of Lapland, Faculty of Social Sciences

Associate professor Tapio Nykänen
University of Oulu, Faculty of Humanities, Giellagas Institute

Professor Katja Kuusisto
Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Associate professor Suvi Raitakari
Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences

Professor Harri Jalonen
University of Vaasa, School of Management

Associate professor Anna Kork
University of Vaasa, School of Management