(Dis)continuities in science and doctoral studies

The preceding text is only a small excerpt from the material in which the idea of the future shape of doctoral studies in the Czech Republic was formulated about ten years ago within the framework of the Q-Ram project of the Ministry of Education. It is not enough to know the basic facts of the field and to have the required language skills. This is taken for granted. According to this characteristic, a doctoral graduate should be able to work with, analyse and interpret the results of their research. Even at this point, however, they should not stop on the way. Just as important as the acquisition of new knowledge and the discovery of innovative approaches is the communication and understanding of findings to the scientific community, as well as to students and the general public. Doctoral studies must be complex, ranging from the desire to 'get to the bottom of things' to the natural need to communicate what is known 'always and everywhere' to those around us.

If we were to ask ourselves what this point on the horizon of doctoral study is, we could clarify it by using another of the articles in the document cited above: "The core professional skills in doctoral studies include the ability to produce, through the dissertation, a major work that contributes, based on one's research, to expanding the frontiers of knowledge in the field." Perhaps this is why editorial series of published dissertations have a privileged place in the libraries of European universities. These, together with habilitation papers, are often considered the "showcase" of a given institute, faculty or university. University institutions use them to demonstrate their research and publishing qualities. For doctoral students themselves, they are often the culmination of their scientific work, or, on the contrary, a stepping stone to a further academic career, the beginning of the "road to professorship".

At Masaryk University, there is also a lively and often turbulent discussion about the future shape of doctoral studies. Its fundamental reform, which should be based on the results of last year's evaluations and which should be carried by three key concepts: interdisciplinarisation - internationalisation - rationalisation. The word 'rationalisation' is used to mean, among other things, the reduction of doctoral study programmes and doctoral councils and, consequently, the reduction in the number of doctoral students. These are serious steps aimed at improving the quality of doctoral studies, achieving competitive scientific results and, last but not least, reducing the "mortality rate" during studies. All these measures in the SWOT analysis table show not only undoubted opportunities but also some threats. Above all, the current reforms will build on the positive changes in the working style of the disciplinary boards and the PhD students themselves that took place at the faculty several years ago.

Some questions about "continuities and discontinuities" in science and doctoral studies may be answered by the debate that will take place at our faculty on 22 November, to which the Vice-Rector of Masaryk University for Research and Doctoral Studies, Prof. Šárka Pospíšilová, and her two predecessors in this position, Prof. Petr Dvořák and Prof. Jana Musilová, have accepted an invitation. Undoubtedly, there will also be a discussion about disciplinary shifts in scientific research or the possibilities and limits of the intersection between research and management of scientific work.

Tomáš Knoz
Vice-dean for academic affairs and doctoral studies