Gdańsk Tech PhD Students' Self-Government wins ProDok 2024 competition award | Gdańsk University of Technology

The ProDok 2024 PhD Students' Community Competition - organized by the National PhD Students' Representation - aims to create a friendly, pro-development competition between PhD Students' Self-Governments from universities across the country. The event is also an opportunity to review environmental initiatives and distinguish inspiring activities.

Almost 100 different initiatives were submitted to this year's edition of the competition. The best ones – in seven categories – were selected by voting by members of doctoral students’ self-governments from all over Poland.

Representatives of our university were also among the winners. The Doctoral Students’ Self-Government of Gdańsk University of Technology was recognized in the “Open to the World” category, which assesses the scope of support for mobility and internationalization at the university running the doctoral school.

The Doctoral Schools of Gdańsk University of Technology educate 450 people, one third of whom are foreign doctoral students.

– Achieving such an internationalization coefficient was possible, among others, thanks to teaching in English, attractive scholarship programs and the offer of high-standard dormitories – says Ignacy Rogoń, MSc, Eng., chairman of the Doctoral Students’ Self-Government of Gdańsk University of Technology. – The cultural diversity of the members of the self-government creates a number of opportunities, while at the same time giving rise to many new challenges. Together we create one community, we take care of each other and support each other. Our university operates many programs supporting internationalization. Scientists from top universities are invited to study visits, international research teams are being formed and activities aimed at obtaining international patent protection are being supported - he adds.

Integration and multi-level support

The Gdańsk Tech PhD Students' Self-Government’s Council meets in English and actively cooperates with international doctoral students. Eight foreigners sit on the council for the 2024-2026 term. They actively participate in the life of the university, supporting newly admitted doctoral students and getting involved in the organization of events such as PhD Open at Gdańsk Tech, Winter Poster Session, Christmas Party or Cultural Day. Gdańsk Tech doctoral students also represent the university internationally in top research centers. The best foreign doctoral students completing their education at the Gdańsk Tech Doctoral School have the opportunity to obtain employment at the university, which they gladly take advantage of.

The self-government council also has a program of co-financing scientific events. In the academic year 2023/2024, thanks to these activities, over PLN 150,000 was distributed, enabling over 80 people to travel to scientific conferences. The Gdańsk Tech Doctoral School regularly obtains funds from NAWA. As part of the STER program - "Gdańsk Tech Doctoral School Closer to Europe" - 20 people were awarded a six-month scholarship of PLN 3,000 per month. Moreover, nine people were awarded three-month travel scholarships covering travel and living costs at lump sum rates and a fixed amount of PLN 5,000 for accommodation.

A university supporting doctoral students

As a research university, Gdańsk University of Technology has a number of programs supporting internationalization. The aim of the Polonium program is to increase the university's effectiveness in acquiring the most talented candidates from outside Poland for education at the Doctoral School at Gdańsk University of Technology - all first-year doctoral students receive an additional scholarship of PLN 2,500. Thanks to the Einsteinium program, scientists from top universities are invited for study visits. The Aurum program promotes the creation of new research teams led by scientists from Gdańsk University of Technology, with the participation of foreign scientists. The Titanium and Molybdenum programs are also worth mentioning. The first program allows for obtaining funding to cover the costs of activities aimed at obtaining or extending international legal protection of an invention. The aim of the second program is to support academic entrepreneurship, especially based on research results.

Gdańsk University of Technology also received nearly PLN 1.7 million from FERS to develop the competences of teaching staff and PhD students at Gdańsk University of Technology.

The development of third-cycle students is also supported by the university committee Welcome Office - a comprehensive service center for employees, guests, PhD students and students from abroad. In turn, as a result of the cooperation between the Gdańsk Tech PhD Students' Self-Government and the Foreign Languages Center of the university, foreign PhD students can benefit from free Polish language courses.