The qualification and supervision concept of the graduate college is characterised by expert supervision with designated mentors, joint responsibility for the doctoral candidates on the part of all participating professors, close cooperation between the doctoral candidates in the programme, and the integration of the doctoral candidates into the participating universities. The graduate college draws on the experience and structures of the structured doctoral programme at the University of Hohenheim and the interdisciplinary offerings and advisory services provided by the University of Hohenheim's graduate academy .
Individual support in the mentoring team
From the moment they are accepted into the graduate college, each doctoral candidate is supported by a mentoring team of at least three members who have relevant expertise for the project and include professors from at least two of the three locations and, as a rule, both types of university. Regular meetings between the doctoral candidates and the mentoring team, including a progress report, result in recommendations for further work and ensure inter-university academic supervision and progress in terms of content.
Structured doctoral programme
The programme-specific study programme is the responsibility of all participating professors, with the involvement of external partners. It is divided into four areas of competence and comprises a total of 30 ECTS credits, which must be completed by the end of the three-year funding phase.
Area of competence I: Onboarding
The programme begins with an interdisciplinary kick-off workshop in which participants are introduced to the topics covered by the doctoral programme and the research and methodological paradigms of the participating disciplines. Here, not only do the professors act as mediators, but the PhD students themselves also function from the outset as teachers (in their own discipline) and learners (in the other disciplines) in the spirit of active learning.
Competence areas II Methods and III Theory and Research
Competence areas II and III on methods and theory and research teach the basics of scientific work, interdisciplinary empirical and legal methods, as well as subject-specific methods, research paradigms and developments. Here, too, the PhD students take on a dual role as teachers and learners. The courses offered by the three universities, some of which are specific to the college and some of which already exist, complement each other and thus embed the students in the participating universities.
Competence area IV: Application, reflection, career advancement
This competence area rounds off the study programme. On the one hand, the area is covered by the interdisciplinary courses offered by the participating universities on soft skills, career planning, and science communication (such as those offered by the Graduate Academy of the University of Hohenheim). In addition, in specific seminars, colloquia, and specialist projects, the students can discuss and critically examine their research findings in an interdisciplinary setting with their peers and renowned scientists, and consolidate their knowledge through projects in cooperation with external partners from public administration.
