CONFERENCE
The conference “Doctoral Supervision in the Face of Change” takes place at a time when significant transformations are occurring in the doctoral education system in Latvia and across Europe, directly affecting both the doctoral process and the role of doctoral thesis supervisors. Strengthening the quality of higher education requires a new perspective on doctoral candidate support and supervisory practices.
The new doctoral studies model, which the University of Latvia is gradually introducing in accordance with amendments to the Law on Institutions of Higher Education and plans to implement fully by the end of 2026, provides for strengthening the quality of doctoral studies through closer integration of doctoral students into research projects and the academic environment. One of the instruments for achieving this objective is the professional development of doctoral thesis supervisors, which in Latvia has so far not been systematically implemented.
Therefore, on 13 March the Doctoral School of the University of Latvia invites academic, administrative and support staff involved in doctoral studies, as well as doctoral thesis supervisors, to the international conference “Doctoral Supervision in the Face of Change” in order to jointly discuss the benefits and challenges related to the professional development of doctoral thesis supervisors.
The aim of the conference is to provide doctoral thesis supervisors and institutional support providers with an opportunity to develop a shared understanding of these changes, analyse their impact on everyday work, and define solutions for a high-quality, sustainable and collaborative doctoral thesis development process.
We invite academic, administrative and support staff involved in doctoral studies, as well as doctoral thesis supervisors who wish to enhance their competences, share experience and contribute to the development of a modern doctoral environment, to participate in the conference.
Programme:
| 10.00–10.15 | Opening Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Latvia, Assoc. Prof. Guntars Kitenbergs |
| 10.15–10.45 | Development Trends in Doctoral Education in the EU and Latvia: Challenges and Solutions in Strengthening the Competences of Doctoral Thesis Supervisors Dr Inta Jaunzeme, Deputy Director of the Doctoral School, University of Latvia |
| 10.45–11.45 | How and What Do Doctoral Supervisors Learn? International Experience and an Insight into the Situation in Latvia Prof. Zanda Rubene, Director of the Doctoral School, University of Latvia |
| 11.45–12.00 | Reflection Moderated by Linda Dambeniece-Migliniece, Senior Expert of the Doctoral School |
| 12.00-13.00 | Break |
After the break, the working language of the conference will be English.
| 13.00–13.40 | Doctoral Supervision in Poland: Regulations, Good Practices, and Challenges Prof. Katarzyna Szarzec and Prof. Tomasz Jewartowski, Poznań University of Economics |
| 13.40–14.10 | Deelopment Programme for Supervisors at VSB-TUO, and Supporting Writing for Publication in Czechia Dr Alena Kašpárková, Technical University of Ostrava |
| 14.10–14.30 | Doctoral Supervision: A Personal International Perspective Dr. Damien Faivre, Univercity of Latvia |
| 14.30–15.00 | Discussion Moderated by Linda Dambeniece-Migliniece, Senior Expert of the Doctoral School |
Venue: Doctoral School of the University of Latvia, Kalpaka Boulevard 4, Sapere Aude Hall (Room 215).
Registration for the conference is mandatory.
Participation is free of charge for representatives of the University of Latvia; for representatives of other institutions the participation fee is EUR 50.
For questions and additional information regarding the conference:
Linda Dambeniece-Migliniece
E-mail: linda.dambeniece-migliniece@lu.lv
Phone: +371 67034030
This text was translated using machine translation tools (DeepL and ChatGPT).
