Essential academic and research skills are acquired during a degree course – but the significantly greater demands and correspondingly wider range of academic skills required by a doctoral project soon make the differences between levels apparent. That’s why we offer a range of skills, qualifications and training in areas such as time and project management, academic writing and presentation that will help you meet the extra demands. There is help too when it comes to finding and managing research papers, complying with good research practice and much more.
For advanced doctoral students too, as well as those in the post-doctoral phase, many new challenges will present themselves. Particularly for those who wish to continue in the academic world, establishing and expanding networking links is crucial, as is publishing or getting the opportunity to position themselves within the academic community with an eye perhaps to attracting and managing their own funding. Management itself may offer an attractive prospect. With all of this in mind, the JGU also offers many attractive opportunities to add to your qualifications, skills and experience in these areas.
Research projects in the humanities and social sciences often give students a great deal of freedom when it comes to the choice and organisation of research methods and the theoretical background on which the work is to be based. But freedom can also bring challenges. To help you meet and master these, we will provide you with opportunities to increase your methodological and research skill set, bring you together with other doctoral and post-doctoral students as well as experienced academics from other humanities and social sciences fields. You will also gain an introduction to interfaces for STEM subjects and to interdisciplinary networking.
Interdisciplinary events in the humanities and social sciences of interest to young researchers from various disciplines can be found here.
A doctorate in the humanities or social sciences opens doors to many opportunities – both within and beyond academia. It makes sense to begin thinking about what the future might hold before you reach the end of your studies. Together with other JGU service providers, we offer you the opportunity to explore a variety of potential career paths, find out about their requirements, talk to prospective employers, reflect on your own strengths and expectations, and acquire qualifications important to your future career. You will also opportunities to find out about the transfer of research findings to the economy and society, to learn about academic communication or business start-ups.
Academic discourse communities and academic occupations are becoming ever more internationalised – though of course the precise nature of this varies greatly depending on the subject. Regardless of whether you studied in Germany and would like to go abroad during your doctorate, or have come to Mainz, or Germersheim, from abroad to do your doctorate, or on a research visit, we and our partners are here to support you with information, advice and workshops.
Young academics can face diverse and often conflicting expectations. Managing such situations on a day-to-day basis requires more than just academic ability – social and communication skills and the capability to manage your own resources are also important. In addition to our individual advisory services, you can find courses here to provide you with the necessary skills and enable you to come together with other young researchers.
Many of the positions open to doctoral students at universities (e.g., research assistant) involve some teaching. And, though this is not always a requirement, the opportunity to gain teaching experience during your doctoral studies programme (e.g. as assistant lecturer) is always worthwhile because teaching experience and qualifications can be extremely useful in all sorts of professional fields besides the academic ones.
The Projekt Hochschuldidaktik (University Didactics Project) (including the Writing Center and the Prüfungswerkstatt/xaminations workshop) and the Hochschulevaluierungsverbund Südwest (Evaluation Association of Higher Education Institutes) (in German) offer a wide variety of skills and further qualification training open to all JGU lecturing staff. Tools and informationen for teaching staff on good academic practice in their studies can also be found at Projekt Akademische Integrität (academic integrity project, in German).