In accordance with the Long-Term Objective in Educational, Research, Development, Artistic and Other Creative Activities for the Higher Education Sector for the Years 2023 - 2028, the Long-Term Objective of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica for the Years 2021 - 2026, the HRS4R commitments, as well as the goals of the European University Alliance EMERGE to create a joint doctoral school, the Doctoral School of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica was established in October 2024 as part of the university management's efforts to systematically improve the quality of doctoral studies by offering interdisciplinary activities that go beyond the offer of individual faculties, and at the same time, by connecting activities at individual faculties.

Doctoral schools have a long tradition in Europe, as well as in the USA and Australia. Their rapid growth can be observed since 2003, when doctoral studies were defined as the third cycle of higher education within the framework of the Bologna Process. According to surveys by the EUA - Council for Doctoral Education, around 70% of European universities have some form of doctoral school (university-wide, faculty-based or thematic doctoral schools). The main aim is to increase the quality of doctoral studies and provide the widest possible support to doctoral students by offering various joint courses in transferable skills, organising doctoral conferences and workshops, but also by offering further education for supervisors.

The ambition of the Doctoral School of MBU is to gradually offer a range of activities that cover the widest possible spectrum of skills defined in the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp).

The objectives of the Doctoral School of MBU focus on the organization and the offer of activities and their coordination (e.g. seminars, workshops, courses, mentoring, etc.) in the interest of the development of doctoral studies at MBU. Courses and activities under the  Doctoral School of MBU will connect existing activities within doctoral study programs and complement education within accredited doctoral programs in such a way as to support the development of skills necessary for the employment of doctoral graduates in an academic environment or beyond.

The aim is to develop a range of skills in three areas:

• Skills for an academic career - such as research design, academic writing, publishing, AI, working in the open science regime, responsible science, preparing research grants, developing pedagogical skills, developing integration when working in mixed groups of Slovak and international students, but e.g. effective and efficient supervision of final theses, etc.;
• Transferable and soft skills - necessary for application across sectors, such as project management, presentation skills and communication, knowledge transfer, creativity, career management, etc.;
• Skills for interdisciplinary and applied research - in topics and areas focused on the challenges of social and economic practice, reflecting the needs of employers outside the academic environment.

Activities for MBU doctoral students have been implemented since the academic year 2024/2025, current activities for the academic year  are available here.

Coordinator of the Doctoral School of MBU:

Mgr. Tomáš Beňuška, PhD.odborný asistent, PhD.

Phone 048/446 1612E-mail[email protected]

Contact:

MBU Rectorate / Vice-Rector's Department for Science and Research, Science and Research Office – phone: +421 48 446 11 20