Strengthening the capacity of the PhD programme in the new doctoral model

Strengthening the capacity of the PhD programme in the new doctoral model

Number and name of the selection round of the specific objective of the support – 8.2.2 Strengthening academic staff of higher education institutions in areas of strategic specialisation Round 3.

Project contract number: 8.2.2.0/20/I/006

Project purpose: Strengthening academic capacity and excellence in areas of strategic specialisation and fostering the attraction of local and international staff.

Key project results: Support for attracting PhD students, degree candidates and foreign academic staff and for further cooperation.

Project partners

Project implementer and lead partner: University of Latvia

Project partners: Scientific Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, BA School of Business and Finance (BASBF), Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art (University of Latvia), Institute of Solid State Physics (University of Latvia), Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (agency of Daugavpils University), Institute of Mathematics and Informatics (University of Latvia), “Baltic Studies Centre”

Project report period: 01.03.2023.-31.05.2023.

Theses and dissertations for the start of the dissertation process in the report period 01.03.2023.-31.05.2023. Two candidates for a research degree have submitted a thesis for the doctoral dissertation procedure. Thesis defences are planned for September.

The project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Doctoral Studies of the University of Latvia in the Framework of the New Doctoral Studies Model” will involve 130 doctoral students and degree candidates in scientific research work at the University of Latvia and project partner organisations, as well as attract and employ ten foreign lecturers. A total of 144 PhD students and degree candidates have received grants to carry out scientific research in the project, and two foreign lecturers are active.

Involvement of doctoral students in study or scientific research work in higher education institutions is one of the activities of the European Social Fund supported project “Strengthening the Capacity of Doctoral Studies at the University of Latvia in the Framework of the New Doctoral Studies Model”, which is implemented under the Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” 8.2.2. within the framework of the third round of the specific support objective “Strengthening academic staff of higher education institutions in areas of strategic specialisation” (project No 8.2.2.0/20/I/006).

Project reporting period: 01.06.2023.-31.08.2023.

From June 1 to August 31 2023, eight young scientists, six of them from the University of Latvia (UL), one from the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the UL and one from the Biomedical Research and Study Centre of Latvia (BMC), have defended their doctoral theses and received their doctoral degrees.

In the project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Doctoral Studies of the University of Latvia in the Framework of the New Doctoral Studies Model”, 144 doctoral students and degree candidates have received grants to carry out scientific research work and develop their doctoral theses, and 12 foreign guest lecturers have been employed.

Work is currently underway on the establishment of the Doctoral School and the implementation of the new doctoral model, which envisages that the doctoral programmes of the University will be implemented in several academic centres in collaboration with external partners, according to the field of study and interdisciplinarity of the doctoral programmes.

Supporting PhD students and attraction of guest lecturers are the activities of the European Social Fund supported project “Strengthening the Capacity of the Doctoral Training at the University of Latvia in the Framework of the New Doctoral Training Model” Nr.8.2.2.0/20/I/006, which is implemented under the Operational Programme “Growth and Employment” 8.2.2. under the 3rd round of the specific support objective “Strengthening academic staff in higher education institutions in areas of strategic specialisation”.