International Doctoral Education Program: Governance and Administration in Education and Science – Reflecting and Advancing: Seasonal Doctoral School for First-Semester PhD Candidates
The Seasonal Doctoral School (January 8–17, 2026) was successfully held as an intensive international academic initiative. It aimed to support first-year PhD students within the framework of the International Doctoral Education Program: Governance and Administration in Education and Science, which was developed as part of the higher education component of the I2Q project. The Seasonal Doctoral School brought together doctoral researchers and an international academic community to promote high-quality doctoral training, academic development, and cross-institutional collaboration in the field of education and science governance.
The Doctoral School was delivered through structured trainings and workshops conducted by 12 professors and researchers from 6 institutions, representing both European and regional academic excellence. The program was coordinated and taught by faculty from Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, University of Milan, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), and the University of Ioannina, with additional specialized expertise contributing to targeted sessions.
PhD candidate’s engagement was reinforced through an applied learning approach: at the end of each workshop, participants prepared individual or group presentations, ensuring structured reflection and immediate application of newly developed skills. PhD candidates also presented research topics and progress, receiving systematic feedback, mentoring, and academic guidance to support next-semester planning and supervision alignment.
The Seasonal Doctoral School concluded with official institutional sessions on January 16–17, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, CIF, NCEQE, TSU, and NKUA. These final days included structured progress reporting, PhD topic pitching and prospectus presentations, and intensive academic discussions, strengthening institutional dialogue and supporting the program’s continued strategic development.