UniPID DocNet brought together a total of 16 doctoral students and 8 supervisors for the purposes of a two-day seminar 6-7 October 2016 at University of Helsinki research station in Tvärminne, Hanko. The programme included both plenary sessions and parallel thematic working groups.

Photo credit: Afroja Khanam, 2016.

UniPID DocNet embraced interdisciplinarity in development research in Tvärminne

UniPID DocNet brought together a total of 16 doctoral students and 8 supervisors for the purposes of a two-day seminar 6-7 October 2016 at University of Helsinki research station in Tvärminne, Hanko. The programme includedboth plenary sessions and parallel thematic working groups. The seminar started with an introduction and a workshop related to knowledge interests in development research, facilitated by professor Elina Oinas from the University of Helsinki. In the workshop the discussions among doctoral candidates and supervisors focused specifically on researchers' concerns and responsibilities related to the impact of their work.

The thematic sessions were based on the papers submitted by the doctoral candidates, focusing on Economics, Business and Innovation; Environmental issues; Methodological challenges; Crisis and Conflict; and Poverty, rights and Governance. In these working groups, the PhD candidates had a chance to present and discuss their work with their colleagues and the PhD supervisors, who were mostly new to their work. This facilitated extra comments and many times opened also new perspectives to the candidates themselves.

In addition to the academic programme the seminar gave space for interdisciplinary networking and planning of the future of the network activities, which was discussed in the UniPID DocNet general assembly. In the general assembly the participating PhD candidates chose from among themselves two representatives for the UniPID DocNet Working Group that plans and implements the DocNet activities and selects the new network members. Roseanna Avento was chosen as a member, and Max Dike as a vice member to represent doctoral candidates interests in the working group. UniPID congratulates the nominees and looks forward to successful cooperation.

Based on feedback that was received, there is a clear need for the networking opportunities and extra guidance of the PhD work provided by UniPID DocNet. Many attendees thanked the organizers for a successful event and opined that such events should be organized also in the future.

If you are working with a doctoral dissertation that deals with development topics and would like to be a member of UniPID DocNet, you can apply here.

If you have any further questions, contact Johanna Kivimäki.