Academic Centre
The former vice dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology (FESP), Professor Zanda Rubene, has been appointed as the director of the unified Doctoral School of the University of Latvia (UL). She took office on July 22.
“In the near future, the doctoral school will become an important support for both young researchers and those supervising doctoral theses, it will provide an opportunity to expand and strengthen the potential of doctoral research, both through closer cooperation with industry and more intensively attracting international partners. Although the establishment of a doctoral school at UL (as well as Latvia as a whole) has commenced recently, we expect to see positive results very soon – for instance, in terms of defended doctoral theses and the rise in the number of doctoral degree holders,” says Professor Zanda Rubene.
In addition to her duties as FESP vice dean of for science, Professor Zanda Rubene is a leading researcher and director of the doctoral study programme “Education Sciences”. Eight doctoral theses have been defended under her supervision, and she teaches study courses in philosophy of education, critical thinking, research ethics. She is passionate about childhood research, including digital childhood. Since May 2022, she is the chair of the UL Constitutional Assembly.
Each year, about 50 new scientists obtain their doctoral degrees from UL. This year, nearly 100 new doctoral students are expected to be admitted at the university.
The UL Doctoral School will offer a compelling and high-quality academic curriculum, providing a comprehensive range of knowledge essential for top-tier intellectual work, from cultural history and philosophy to statistics and the writing of publications and projects. Doctoral students will have broader opportunities to receive remuneration and, from the start of their research, will be involved in academic activities. An adapted promotion council (individual promotions) will facilitate the implementation of interdisciplinary research. Unified regulations will reduce uncertainty and ambiguity, making the system more transparent and comprehensible. There will also be greater flexibility in evaluating the competencies of doctoral candidates and aligning them with current industry trends.
Amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions mandate the introduction of the new doctoral study model and the establishment of the Doctoral School as a university structural unit by 1 September 2024. The regulations for the UL Doctoral School are expected to be approved in July. Doctoral students who began their studies before the end of August this year must obtain their PhD degree by the end of 2026, in accordance with the Law on Higher Education Institutions and Law on Scientific Activity. Those starting their studies from 1 September 2024, will be awarded their degrees in accordance with the new requirements of the Law on Higher Education Institutions.
So far, UL has implemented an internal grant system for doctoral studies and organized a series of educational and informational seminars, including workshops on time management, stress management, professional burnout, creating digital profiles, scientific networking and publishing as well as science communication. Experience exchange webinars have also been held, introducing doctoral students and scientific supervisors to study and research experiences at various universities worldwide.
More information about doctoral study programmes and admission procedures can be found on the UL website.
The establishment of the UL Doctoral School is one of the activities in the Recovery and Resilience Facility project "Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia" (No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/007), implemented by the UL and the BA School of Business and Finance. This initiative continues the enhancement of doctoral studies at the UL, which began under the European Social Fund project "Strengthening the Capacity of doctoral studies at the University of Latvia within the New Doctoral Model" (No. 8.2.2.0/20/I/006).
