Course for doctoral students “Doctoral study – algorithms of successful practice. Challenges for female doctoral students”

Submitted by: prof. Rositsa Doneva, Plovdiv „Paisii Hilendarski“

01 April 2020 – 30 April 2021

Lecturers from Plovdiv University developed and launched starting from 2020 a brand-new course for doctoral students named “Doctoral study – algorithms of successful practice. Challenges for female doctoral students” (ASP). The course aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the practical work of the doctoral student through discussions and recommendations on common issues such as:
- Relationship with the manager;
- Structuring training time;
- Difficulties in writing the dissertation and scientific texts;
- Receiving help and support from the training unit and colleagues;
- Juggling with multiple commitments and achieving a balance with personal time;
- Coping with stress;
- Lack of funding;
- etc.
In addition, this course focuses on specific challenges for female doctoral students and provides practical strategies for dealing with them.
The course is offered annually for university doctoral students via Academia Iuventutis (University centre for young scholars, PhD candidates, and post-doctoral researchers)

COMPASS PERSPECTIVE – in what way(s) was the measure C O M P A S S?

C - because it provides clarity, guidance, and support on the challenges associated with participating in doctoral studies and, thus, allows doctoral students to find the right approach to their own successful doctoral journey and their own right path to a satisfactory academic career.

O - because it allows the ASP doctoral student to openly discuss their experiences and problems without worrying about unpleasant consequences, discrimination, or judgment.

M - because it allows the ASP doctoral student to openly discuss their experiences and problems without worrying about unpleasant consequences, discrimination, or judgment.

P - because the ASP course provides gender-equitable access, focuses on the efficiency and effectiveness of the practical work of the doctoral students, as well as because of its equal, responsive, and supportive way in which it facilitates the sharing of good practices and approaches dealing with obstacles, without neglecting the specific challenges facing female doctoral students.

A - because the ASP course provides gender-equitable access, focuses on the efficiency and effectiveness of the practical work of the doctoral students, as well as because of its equal, responsive, and supportive way in which it facilitates the sharing of good practices and approaches dealing with obstacles, without neglecting the specific challenges facing female doctoral students.

S - the ASP course is result-focused because its design is driven by the end goal of a doctoral study and concentrated on doctoral students' achievements.

S - because the ASP course is offered in a continuous manner for university doctoral students (annual).

ACTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS

University doctoral students regardless of their gender, course authors/teachers, Academia Iuventutis, doctoral studies heads and administration.

AUTHOR’S REFLECTIONS

What would you do the same/differently another time?
What have you learnt? Do you see relevance for this in other contexts?

A significant part of obstacles experienced by students on the pathway to doctoral study are related to the availability of knowledge about the research environment and awareness of potential career paths, visibility of role models and access to mentorship, connection to community, and sufficient and appropriate support mechanisms and resources to manage their time.

Achieving greater efficiency of the ASP course delivery implies improving cooperation with doctoral supervisors in the first place, as well as with doctoral studies heads and administration.