Join a learning community of early-career researchers. Choose from activities carefully selected just for you.
Our target group consists of early-career researchers whom we aim to support in their academic and research activities, as well as in their networking and knowledge-sharing efforts. This includes doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers—that is, researchers who have recently earned their PhDs. We seek to provide researchers at the beginning of their academic careers with appropriate support as they transition to independent research. We also keep senior researchers in mind, as we aim to connect the scientific community not only across disciplines but also across the various stages of an academic’s career.
A professor, alone with his machine and a glass of wine, in the dim light of a smoke-filled café. Nothing could be further from the truth. Knowledge is the result of a collective effort.
These activities are designed for students across all doctoral programs, and their interdisciplinary nature effectively complements and enhances the curriculum of individual doctoral programs at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University.
The (post)doctoral program is run under the supervision of the Vice Dean for research and academic affairs, prof. Tomáš Janík.
Vice-dean for research and academic affairs, Faculty of Education
The specific role of the (Post)doctoral School is to develop appropriate tools and activities to support you, early-career researchers, based on empirical research, analyses of relevant documents, and the requirements of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. We base our approach on your needs and take into account the requirements associated with your professional transition toward independent research work.
We draw inspiration from the approaches of other European universities to doctoral education, particularly in the development of the concept of “doctoral schools,” such as the Doctoral School at the Faculty of Education of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia) and the Graduiertenschule at the University of Hamburg, Faculty of Educational Sciences (Germany). In designing the (Post)doctoral School, we take into account the existing development activities at the university-wide level offered by the MUNI PhD Academia, organized by the RMU Research Department, as well as the offerings of other faculties and research institutions within the university (e.g., CEITEC), and we strive to build upon them.
The development of support activities for doctoral students in the form of “doctoral schools” as a means of improving the effectiveness and quality of their studies is also one of the priorities of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan for Higher Education for the period beginning in 2021.
The establishment of the (Post)doctoral School is part of the implementation of the faculty’s HRS4R strategy in connection with the HR Excellence in Research Award.
At the Faculty of Education, we are developing interdisciplinary research collaboration that spans individual doctoral programs. In 2024, we established three special interest groups (SIGs) composed of doctoral students from various fields.
The first SIG is titled “Professional Development and Beginning Teachers” and covers research topics in the field of pedagogy; the second is titled “Self-Regulated Learning and Formative Assessment” and brings together doctoral students working on topics in subject-specific didactics and the psychology of learning, and the third SIG is titled “Image and Text in Education and Learning” and connects students with topics in pedagogy, language didactics, art education, and special education.
The individual SIGs benefit from both the academic resources of the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University and the expertise of specialists outside the university. In 2024, the following individuals joined in supporting them: Prof. Iva Stuchlíková (Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice), Dr. Karolína Duschinská (Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague), and Assoc. Prof. Jan Slavík (Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen).
The quality of doctoral studies is determined in practice, which is why we are working directly at the faculty to explore ways to improve it. This is evidenced by the material that has been submitted for broader discussion.
The school’s structure is based on research into the needs of early-career researchers at the Faculty of Education, but we continue to gather suggestions and feedback. What should we include in the school? What do you feel is missing? What could we improve?
contact:+420 549 49 7667
e-mail: phdschool@ped.muni.cz
As part of the (Post)Postdoctoral School, we also ensure the sharing of information about developments in the scientific community, invite participants to interesting events, promote academic lectures and conferences, and share job postings and other opportunities for collaboration. Information is shared via regular group emails to doctoral students, through the “Activities and Invitations” section of the doctoral studies page on the faculty website (CZ version), on the (Post)doctoral School’s Facebook page, here on the website and MS Teams group chat.
We organize "PhDdating"—a gathering for doctoral students studying at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University.
Each semester, approximately five workshops on a variety of topics are offered, led by expert researchers from the Faculty of Education, other faculties at the university, or other Czech and foreign universities.
Overview of Workshops for the Fall 2024 (CZ) Workshop Overview for the Fall 2023 (CZ) Workshop Overview for the Fall 2022 Workshop Overview for the Spring 2022 Workshop Overview for the Fall 2021 Workshop Overview for the spring 2021
The conference for doctoral students at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, is traditionally held once a year, always during the fall semester. It offers students across all programs and years an opportunity to meet and hear about the topics their colleagues are exploring in their dissertation research. There is also always an opportunity for discussion with experienced researchers who also attend the conference. Presenters are nominated for the conference by the chairs of the disciplinary boards of the individual doctoral programs. This academic year, the conference will take place on November 23, 2023.
Conference program 2024 Conference program 2023 Conference program 2022
The (Post)doctoral School also features invited lectures by domestic and international researchers. Thanks to this opportunity, early-career researchers (and others) have the chance to meet leading experts in their field and, if appropriate, establish contact for the purpose of consulting on their dissertation research.
Schedule of Lectures for the Spring Semester 2021
On October 6, 2022, the third annual PhD Day at the Faculty of Education was held, intended for both current doctoral students and those interested in pursuing doctoral studies at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University. The aim of this informational meeting was to present the concept of doctoral studies at the Faculty of Education, MU, and to provide detailed information on admission requirements, scholarship programs, study abroad opportunities, library services for doctoral students, and faculty development activities for PhD students within the (Post)doctoral School.
The event was part of the university-wide PhD Day MU organized by the MU Rector’s Office, which consists of a faculty-specific section providing detailed information and a university-wide section targeting doctoral students and applicants for doctoral studies across the entire university.
Every two years, in collaboration with the Center for Academic Writing at the Czech Academy of Sciences, we organize a semester-long online course in academic writing in English. The first session took place in the fall of 2020, and the second in the fall semester of 2022.
Authors from the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University can find an overview on the website of the forms of support and tools available at the faculty, university, and external levels for each stage of the publication process. You can find the link to the website here (authenticated access using MUNI login credentials).
