"Ideal framework conditions for the qualification phase"

What is the KU’s goal in supporting doctoral candidates and researchers in the qualification phase through centralized offers?

Dr. Magdalena Schönweitz: The Academic Careers team at the Research Service Center supplements the professional support provided by academic managers at a cross-faculty level with offers that support, for example, the development and expansion of skills at an interdisciplinary level. The aim is, of course, to offer the people we train here at the KU ideal conditions for the qualification phase and thus contribute to the best possible career opportunities in science and beyond.

What role do the topics of knowledge transfer, internationality and interdisciplinarity play at the beginning of an academic career?

For us in Academic Careers, the focus is always first and foremost on professional excellence. This means that we provide support in the areas of scientific methods, scientific writing, presentation and communication as well as project management and self-organization for all aspects of research. Always based on the research topic, the topics of knowledge transfer, internationality and interdisciplinarity also play a role. Of course, there are research topics that have particularly good links to the area of transfer, for example if they are carried out in cooperation with companies or civil society stakeholders. In such a case, it is particularly important to share the research results with everyone who has contributed. 
We try to help our researchers in the qualification phase to adequately introduce their research topics to other groups and to have fun in the process. In the past, for example, we have had formats such as the "90 seconds" movie competition. Doctoral candidates and postdocs were invited to present their research topic, which is usually very complex, in an easy-to-understand 90-second video.

What formats are currently in place at the KU to support doctoral students and researchers in their qualification phase?

Our work is not about coming up with something on the drawing board, but about addressing the specific needs and wishes of our target group. We like to try out new formats and also try to respond to the short-term needs of doctoral candidates and postdocs. We have been organizing the Young Researchers Day every year for five years. In the beginning, it was more of an information day, but in the last two years, we have developed it more in the direction of careers with the topics of internationality and interdisciplinarity. 
In addition, we organize an extensive workshop program every year based on a target group survey. Training in presentation and communication is always part of this. For many newcomers to doctoral studies, attending their first international conference is a big step. Especially for people who are perhaps a little more introverted, our training program is very helpful in preparing them for the unfamiliar situation.
Last winter semester, we tried out a more informal format with the Coffee Lectures, lasting around 45 minutes, in which we address various topics. Our advisory services on the subject of qualifications and career development are also very important. These discussions are also an important source of inspiration for the further development of our services.

To what extent are there also offers for Master's students?

We are currently stepping up our activities in the transition from the Master's to the doctoral phase. Through word of mouth at the chairs and professorships, people who are just starting their Master's thesis and are considering whether a doctorate could be an option come to the advisory service from time to time. Such early inquiries are actually the ideal case for us. We want to intensify our activities in this area.

What role does the Transformation Summer Camp play?

The Transformation Summer Camp makes an important contribution to our international visibility as a small University. Such events are an excellent opportunity for the KU to present itself as an outstanding location for the doctoral or postdoctoral phase. Here, we can show that we have very good framework conditions and that the KU is a very good alternative to the well-known large institutions. For those who have gotten to know the respective academics at the KU and appreciate a more personal interaction, the KU is also an option for the qualification phase. The fact that an international participant of the Transformation Summer Camp has since become a member of the Research Training Group "Practicing Place" that is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) proves that this works. This is a great success.