At the beginning of summer, the KTU Doctoral Summer School traditionally becomes a meeting point for the international community of young scientists. This year, for the ninth time, the event invited PhD students from various fields to explore issues in science communication and 21st-century research ethics, as well as to establish lasting professional and academic connections.
This year’s International Doctoral Summer School, which took place on 2–6 June, attracted participants representing diverse range of disciplines from six European countries (Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway and Poland), from the natural sciences, technology, medicine, to the social sciences and humanities.
Contemporary trends from international experts
The five-day training invited participants to look back at the competences and areas that are among the most important for today’s scientist: publishing, science communication, raising the profile of research, and 21st-century research ethics. According to Reda Žilėnaitė, these competences are an integral part of a successful academic and professional path.
Among the international team of experts who shared their knowledge were Frank Witlox (Ghent University, Belgium), Inge Schouten (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands), Milica Ševkušić (Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts) and José Luis Molina Gonzalez (Autonomous University of Barcelona). According to Simona Devenytė-Janauskienė, KTU Doctoral Project Manager and the organiser of the KTUSummer School, the relevant topics and professionalism of the lecturers promoted engaging discussions among the participants, which became the core of this year’s Summer School.
Prof. Dr J.L. Molina Gonzalez, Lecturer at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who gave a presentation on the ethics of contemporary research, also stressed his delight at the attention of young scientists to this field of research and the community that is so interested in it.
“The participants were interested in this topic, and I was very pleased with the lively discussions and their insights into the ethical aspects of research. I think it was a great experience for all of us,” said Dr Molina Gonzalez.
Making a significant contribution to academic and professional success
Viktorija Toegel, a PhD student at Vytautas Magnus University and a participant of this year’s KTU Doctoral Summer School, was also delighted to have had the opportunity to gain such experience. According to the young researcher, the five days were not only a great opportunity to become better integrated into the international community of PhD students and researchers but also provided her with important competencies that will be very useful in the final steps of her PhD studies.
“The upcoming semesters of my PhD plan are closely linked not only to the preparation of my thesis, but also to the publication of scientific articles and to speaking at international scientific conferences, so this PhD summer school was particularly useful for me because of its thematic focus,” she said, “I am very grateful to the organisers, who did a great job – everything was planned down to the smallest detail and executed to the highest standard. The KTU Summer School was not only valuable, but also very enjoyable – I am happy to have made so many new and quality contacts with other PhD students, lecturers and organisers.”
“We believe that investments in strengthening doctoral students’ competencies and building community are meaningful and significant both at the individual and institutional level, which is why we are planning to organise the summer school next year as well,” says Reda Žilėnaitė, the Head of the KTU Doctoral School.
