UniverZ: Lost new PhD students? UWB wants to change that with a new doctoral school

PhD students at UWB face many challenges, especially at the beginning of their studies. The university leadership wants to help. In our podcast, the Vice-Rector for Creative Activities, Jiří Hammerbauer, and the Vice-Rector for Studies, Jiří Kohout, explained how the university plans to do so.

Vedení ZČU: Doktorská škola nepřipraví studenta na míru, je to obecný rámec potřebných znalostí a dovedností.

A PhD is not the same as a master’s degree, and students are expected to demonstrate a considerable level of independence. That works well, as long as they know where to turn and where to find the information they need. To support doctoral students in this area, the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen is preparing a university-wide doctoral school, which is expected to launch soon. The new episode of the podcast UniverZ featured the people best placed to discuss the initiative and the experience of PhD students in Pilsen: Vice-Rector for Creative Activities and Doctoral Studies, Jiří Hammerbauer, and Vice-Rector for Educational Strategy and Student Affairs, Jiří Kohout.

“We increasingly feel the need to give PhD students a common foundation, a certain body of knowledge they will need throughout their doctoral studies, regardless of their specific field,” explains Jiří Kohout when describing the origins of the University of West Bohemia’s doctoral school. Some university departments had previously offered similar programs for doctoral students, but their scope and format varied considerably. The university leadership now wants to structure this support more effectively and establish it across the entire university.

“Pilot courses are currently underway. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Arts, and the Faculty of Applied Sciences are involved, and selected experts are teaching the kinds of skills doctoral students need to gain the necessary competencies,” says Jiří Hammerbauer. According to the university, it does not want to dictate exactly how the new doctoral school will operate at individual faculties. The faculties will retain their autonomy in these matters. The main goal is to ensure a shared core of content, and according to Vice-Rector Hammerbauer, the courses will not place an excessive burden on doctoral students.

So far, the University of West Bohemia has allocated approximately one million Czech crowns to the new doctoral school. However, as Vice-Rector Jiří Kohout explains, doctoral students do not need to worry that they might ever have to pay for the courses: “That would not even be possible. If these are part of Czech study programs, the education must be free. It would be difficult to justify making completion of the doctoral school compulsory while at the same time asking students to contribute five or ten thousand crowns.”

Both vice-rectors agree that doctoral studies are worthwhile and that the University of West Bohemia is keen to support its PhD students. Although the journey is often challenging, they believe it is worth staying at the university and continuing one’s academic path. “It is an investment in the future and in further development. Moreover, it is an opportunity to try out many different things,” adds Jiří Kohout.

You can listen to the full interview on Spotify or YouTube.