Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) recently hosted the 10th International PhD Summer School, marking a milestone anniversary with a record level of international participation. The event welcomed 44 PhD students from 12 countries: Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Lithuania. The Lithuanian participants came from six universities across the country.
Over five intensive days, doctoral students took part in a series of training sessions delivered by international experts. Frank Witlox from Ghent University, Belgium, led the workshop “Communicating Your (scientific) Ideas – Meeting With the Editor”, focusing on effective communication of scientific ideas. Inge Schouten from the Netherlands introduced participants to the principles of public speaking in her session “Clear and Confident Speaking: Master Your Message”.
Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez from Umeå University, Sweden, explored the governance and assessment of artificial intelligence systems in his lecture “Governance and Assessment of AI Systems”. Finally, Ewa Pluciennicka delivered the workshop “How to Deal with Stress During Your PhD and Use It as a Positive Power?”, sharing practical strategies for managing stress throughout doctoral studies.
Valuable Experience and New Skills
Vytenis, a PhD student at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, says the KTU PhD Summer School provided an excellent opportunity to develop as a researcher, build new professional connections and broaden his understanding of the responsibilities that come with pursuing a PhD.
“It was an exceptionally well-balanced event, offering the opportunity to gain new knowledge, connect with others in an academic environment and, most importantly, realise that learning can be both enjoyable and worthwhile,” he says.
Marina, a PhD student at Uppsala University, Sweden, agrees that the Summer School was an outstanding experience.
“I gained many valuable skills that will benefit me throughout my PhD. For example, I learned more about the process of submitting manuscripts to academic journals and how to write an effective motivation letter. I also improved my presentation skills and learned techniques for making presentations more engaging. In addition, we discussed artificial intelligence and explored more effective strategies for managing stress,” says Marina.
She also appreciated the opportunity to discover Lithuania and build connections with fellow PhD students from around the world.
Meanwhile, Pansang, a PhD student at Shizuoka University, Japan, describes the Summer School as one of the most memorable experiences of his doctoral journey.
“The programme offered an excellent balance between academic seminars and social activities, and the organisers ensured that every participant felt genuinely welcome. What made this experience truly special was the opportunity to meet PhD students from different disciplines and learn from them, as the programme is open to researchers from all academic fields. I returned home not only with new skills but also with new friends from around the world,” says Pansang.
An Event That Continues to Grow
According to one of the organisers, Simona Devenytė-Janauskienė, Head of PhD Projects at KTU, the Summer School continues to grow and evolve every year.
“This year, we were delighted by the large number of participants and the incredibly diverse international representation. Seeing PhD students exchange ideas, discuss artificial intelligence and academic writing, and build future partnerships is the greatest recognition of our work. The Summer School offers an ideal opportunity for doctoral students to step away from their everyday research, recharge their motivation and prepare for their future academic careers,” she says.
Reda Žilėnaitė, Head of the KTU Doctoral School, notes that the KTU PhD Summer School has now brought together an international community of doctoral students for the tenth time.
“This demonstrates that investing in transferable skills is key to a successful academic and professional career. The participants’ appreciation and the excellent feedback received by our speakers are the best proof of the Summer School’s value. Encouraged by this response, we are already planning next year’s event. We would also like to thank our colleagues from the Department of International Relations for their contribution to promoting the Summer School,” says Žilėnaitė.
