What is the situation of doctoral education at the European level? What will doctoral education look like in Finland after ten years? What is the role of various doctoral education services in academia and what is expected of them?
Current topics and visions of the future will be addressed on the nationwide Doctoral Education Day arranged in Rovaniemi on 6 October. The programme is open for everyone and participating is free of charge. The language of the event is English, and its theme concentrates on the role of doctoral schools and doctoral education services particularly from the viewpoints of openness, internationalisation, and accountability. The theme is topical in all Finnish universities, and the event supports joint development objectives.
Everyone interested in the development of doctoral education are warmly welcome to the event, especially directors of doctoral programmes and doctoral schools, PhD supervisors, doctoral researchers, and those involved in the administration and development of doctoral education.
“The idea is to bring together experts from various interest groups to discuss and develop doctoral education from the viewpoints of services and networked collaboration,” notes Annukka Jakkula from the University of Lapland.
The day is arranged annually at universities in the national network of doctoral education. This year it is Lapland’s turn. According to Osmo Rätti, the vice-rector for research at the University of Lapland, various changes and developments are taking place in doctoral education, so there is much to discuss. Good experiences are shared in workshops during the day.
“There will be three workshops, one of which is reserved primarily for supervisors. By sharing good practices, we can avoid re-inventing the wheel”, continues Osmo Rätti, the director of the Doctoral School at the University of Lapland.
The main address deals with the future developments of doctoral education in Europe. It is held online by Alexander Hasgall, the director of the European Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE).
Goals of doctoral education at the University of Lapland
According to Osmo Rätti, the goals of doctoral education at our university include the following: increasing the number of salaried positions for doctoral researchers, increasing the number of doctoral degrees, and advancing communality at our university.
“Yet another goal is to strongly establish the Arctic in a Changing World thematic doctoral programme that has been up and running for two years,” says Osmo Rätti.
There are also plans to strengthen the networked Doctoral School of the University of Lapland. Last spring, Annukka Jakkula proposed to the steering group of the Doctoral School that the school be reinforced by appointing an academic director.
“Strengthening the Doctoral School would also be important from the viewpoint of internationalisation. We could be able to direct our work toward common European goals, such as pursuing closer interaction between PhD supervisors and advancing the status of doctoral researchers in the academic community,” notes Jakkula.
Doctoral Education Day: registration and programme
www.ulapland.fi/doceduday
Further information:
Osmo Rätti, Director of the Doctoral School and Vice Rector for Research, osmo.ratti(at)ulapland.fi, +358 40 013 8804
Annukka Jakkula, Coordinator of the Doctoral School, annukka.jakkula(at)ulapland.fi, +358 40 484 4441