M7 ProUB Plus Graduate Center

The measure entitled “ProUB PLUS Graduate Center” seeks to expand the offer of ProUB and aims at achieving a quality “plus” for doctoral candidates: The funding encompasses Success Teams, doc-networks, post-graduate level research projects and external examinations.

Success teams

A success team comprises an interdisciplinary group of doctoral students who meet regularly in self-management every two weeks and lend each other support by mutually agreeing upon binding work goals. The meetings are structured according to a fixed procedure that ensures efficient and sustainable cooperation. Working together in a team boosts the motivation to plan in advance the various steps of their research projects, leading to more successful implementation and shorter times needed for the completion of the doctoral thesis. At a kick-off session, external trainers introduce the teams to the methods of peer coaching. These trainers continue to accompany the groups throughout.

Doc networks

Doctoral students build up their own doc-networks surrounding shared research topics, methods and interdisciplinary work approaches. The networks develop activities beyond the individual research themes, like the organization of subject-specific workshops or co-authored publications. They receive financial and organizational support from the ProUB Graduate Center.

External examiners

By assuming the travel costs incurred in connection with the viva, the Graduate Center facilitates the possibility to call upon external examiners to accompany and supervise PhD projects carried out at the University of Bremen. From the beginning of 2013 it will also be possible for doctoral students to undertake research stays at their external supervisors’ institution.

“Impuls” grants for doctoral students

The Institutional Strategy foresees additional funding for individual doctoral students in the form of a so-called “Impuls” grant to support certain activities in connection with research projects (attendance at summer schools, additional data collection, or cooperation activities with external partners). The applications are reviewed by a commission made up of doctoral candidates.

You can find more information on the web pages of the Graduate Center ProUB.