Textbook and educational media research is marked by its diversity of disciplinary approaches and topics. The PhD researchers working at the GEI reflect this diversity of disciplines: our current doctoral candidates are working on projects in disciplines such as history, political studies, pedagogy, media and cultural studies, and computer sciences.
INSTITUTIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Our doctoral candidates work on research or knowledge transfer projects and are actively engaged by the GEI in institutional development processes by being assigned organisational tasks and by participating in various internal committees. This blend of institutional tasks and study is made possible through a combination of intensive work phases interspersed with study leave.
ACTIVITIES OF DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
GROUP OF DOCTORAL CANDIDATES
The doctoral candidates meet monthly to discuss the organisational aspects of their work. The Group of Doctoral Candidates (DoK) elects representatives to internal governing bodies, organises project-specific working groups and decides on training and education requirements. It independently manages a budget supplied to it by the Institute.
WINTER OR SPRING SCHOOL
A winter or spring school organised by the DoK promotes an internal discourse of current research at the institute. The focus lies primarily on discussions of the content, theory and methodology of doctoral and post-doctoral theses in progress at the Georg Eckert Institute. This provides a platform for intensive dialogue and communication unhindered by the day to day work of the institute.
WORKSHOPS
The DoK organises regular training workshops, coaching sessions and further education seminars.
FURTHER ACTIVITIES
- The DoK is also active within the Leibniz Association and has started an initiative aimed at improving internal networking for doctoral candidates within the Association.The group is closely involved in the planning and execution of the regular GEI Colloquia.
- In terms of international networking, the DoK also helps manage the Institute’s fellowship programme and assists with the organisation and execution of the Georg Arnhold International Summer Conference.
- The former DoK members Jasmin Troeger and Felix Büchner have created the KriDiFoSch Network (Kritische Digitalitätsforschung im Kontext Schule – Critical digital research in the school context) in 2021, which is now operated by the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. The aim of this network is to bring together doctoral candidates in German-speaking countries, enabling them to exchange information and cooperate in order to contribute to the discourse on ‘Schools and digitality’. This process includes critical reflections on: digital educational media and practices, datafication processes, the role of EdTech and EdTech companies, educational discourse on digitality, political and institutional implications, debates on inequality in connection with school digitisation, postdigitality, etc.
