10th anniversary of NRW Graduate Schools
Minister Svenja Schulze: The structured doctoral education is a success story. We want to make Northrhine-Westphalia a magnet for the brightest minds.
On November 18th, the six NRW Graduate Schools which were founded in 2001 jointly celebrated their 10th anniversary at the university of Dortmund. Members, alumni, students and friends of the IGSN were invited to contribute to a panel discussion about the "future of the doctorate in Germany". The minister of innovation, science and research, MdL Svenja Schulze, general secretary of the German research society (DFG) Ms Dorothee Dzwonnek, the director of the IGSN, Prof Denise Manahan-Vaughan, the speaker of the Cologne graduate school, Prof Maria Leptin and graduate school alumnus Dr. Jens-Peter Kempkes participated in a lively discussion moderated by Prof Holger Wormer, science journalist from the university of Dortmund.
The panel agreed that the initiation of structured doctoral training of talented researchers was a major milestone when the government of NRW founded the Graduate Schools in 2001. Currently more than 350 PhD students are studying within the schools, more than 450 alumni have been awarded a PhD. Along with high-level research they participate in a structured curriculum that includes interdisciplinary training and "soft skills" training. The graduate schools have become leading, high-profile projects of the NRW university landscape.
The panel also discussed strategies for further development of doctoral programmes. What strategies could be implemented to help young PhD holders towards career options outside the academia? Which additional courses could be offered in the area of soft skills? Is a programme length of three years the "ultima ratio" for all disciplines? These, and many other interesting topics were discussed
The discussion went on after the panel discussion with students, faculty members and guests in the pleasant atmosphere of the University café.
The panel from the left to the right: Dr Jens-Peter Kempkes, Prof Denise Manahan-Vaughan,
Dorothee Dzwonnek, Prof Helmut Wormer, Svenja Schulze, Prof Maria Leptin
Prof K.-P. Hoffmann with IGSN student Sabrina Schreiber
Speakers, directors and coordinators of the NRW Graduate Schools with minister Svenja Schulze
Vice speaker Prof Michael Hollmann and directory board member Prof Rolf Heumann to his right
IGSN students Carla Munafo and Beate Knauer
IGSN students Daniel Lengersdorf and Kevin Gottschling
