Global Challenges in PhD Support in Higher Education

The GIRO project team organized the International Staff Week 2025 at Trier University of Applied Sciences from September 22 to 26, 2025. Faculty members from seven countries came to Trier to share ideas on current challenges and future perspectives regarding the interdisciplinary support of doctoral students and early-career researchers.

New ideas and invaluable insights into the organisational and cultural structures of the international partner institutions emerged from inspiring conversations. The event highlighted the crucial role of good science communication, including the visibility of scientific research. Moreover, the discussions focused on key topics, such as internationalisation, the mobility of PhD students and staff members, and opportunities for international cooperation.  

It became clear from the start that the event was far more than just a series of workshops and keynotes. The atmosphere was characterised by openness and a strong enthusiasm for collaborative learning. The World Café made clear the central challenges and opportunities of PhD support: topics such as cooperation with various universities, support for research groups and doctoral schools. These aspects were addressed throughout the week and explored in more detail in different formats.

During the campus tour, our international guests gained first impressions of the diverse initiatives at the Environmental Campus, through which the university takes responsibility for the environment and society. The visit to the INNODIG lab and the presentation of the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS) demonstrated how consistently sustainable goals are integrated into research, teaching, and infrastructure at the Environmental Campus. Many participants gained valuable insights for their own institutions.

The programme offered a varied range of keynotes and workshops, covering topics such as AI in Higher Education, Doctoral Networks, and Science Communication. The lecture by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Marlene Altenmüller, titled Bridging the Gap: How to Foster Public Trust in Science, was particularly outstanding. Her keynote illustrated how essential society’s trust in scientific research is.

In line with the title Bridging the Gap, the topic of science communication was put into practice in an episode of the GIRO podcast Deep Dive into Applied Science. During the staff week, our staff week member Caio Correa Costa from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil) participated in a special episode of Deep Dive. In his role as a PhD student working in research support service, he helps build bridges between the needs of PhD students and the administrative side of the PhD services. The episode provides access to intercultural perspectives and highlights pathways toward more visible, international PhD support networks.

Presentations by the staff members further increased the visibility of their work throughout the week. The cross-border exchange on PhD and research support also inspired new ideas for addressing ongoing challenges.

Beyond the programme setting, international networking continued. Guided tours of Trier, cultural offers, and informal get-togethers fostered a friendly and collegial atmosphere. At the end of the week, our staff member Marianna Hričová reflected: “I would like to work in an international team like our group was during this Staff Week. This week was about building bridges and erasing borders.” 

After five days, the conclusion is: the International Staff Week laid the groundwork for international cooperation. The exchange provided an opportunity to internationalise PhD structures at Trier University of Applied Sciences. At the same time, participants gained many new insights and ideas for addressing current challenges. The programme brought together people from different academic and personal backgrounds and provided them with a space for genuine exchange.