CONFERENCEThe path to science begins with the desire to dare to know more!
The Doctoral School is an open and inclusive platform that brings together doctoral students and provides professional support on their journey toward new scientific discoveries. It fosters the development of transversal skills and essential research competences, supports well-being throughout doctoral studies, and enables engagement with a personality-driven early-career research community.
Sapere aude – dare to know!
The Core Mission of the Doctoral School is to supervise the implementation of all UL doctoral study programmes and ensure the promotion process, to promote the career development of early-career researchers, to monitor and improve the quality of doctoral studies, and to promote international cooperation. The new doctoral model, which will be gradually introduced at UL by the end of 2026, provides for a transition to employment-based doctoral studies with strengthened interdisciplinarity.
1. To determine and implement the activities of the Doctoral School;
2. To administer the funds allocated to the Doctoral School, including ensuring their distribution for the implementation of doctoral study programmes (hereinafter - DSP) and the implementation of other functions and tasks within the competence of the Doctoral School;
3. To ensure the progress and development of doctoral studies in cooperation with faculties, institutes, cooperation partners and other institutions;
4. To ensure the quality of doctoral studies;
5. To develop a proposal for the regulatory framework necessary to ensure the functioning of the Doctoral School, including the procedure for internal evaluation of the DSP quality;
6. To develop a strategy for the development of the DS and DSPs, integrating and further developing the existing range of UL DSPs;
7. To develop cooperation with scientific institutions to strengthen research;
8. To develop and ensure a selection procedure for DSP applicants;
9. To promote the provision of research positions and remuneration during doctoral studies;
10. To promote the career development of doctoral students;
11. To establish and develop a support system for the implementation of doctoral research, publication and dissemination of its results;
12. To develop and implement a plan of professional development measures for doctoral thesis supervisors;
13. To prepare a proposal on the composition of doctoral councils and submit it for approval in accordance with the procedure established by UL;
14. To develop and ensure a procedure for the selection of reviewers;
15. To organise pre-doctoral and post-doctoral events;
16. To develop terms of cooperation with Latvian and foreign scientific institutions;
17. To support the organisation of doctoral summer schools, scientific conferences, symposia, seminars and other scientific events;
18. To ensure and organise the mobility of doctoral students and academic staff involved in DSP programmes;
19. To promote scientific activities and inform the public about research results.