Profile
Since its establishment in 2020, the Doctoral School NRW has been developing its own structures and processes to create the necessary framework for doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences (HAW) in North Rhine-Westphalia. In doing so, it draws on the experience gained through the Graduate Institute NRW between 2016 and 2020, from which it emerged.
In addition, the Doctoral School NRW derives a range of responsibilities and objectives from its legal mandate and institutional mission, which together form the overarching framework guiding its activities.
Objectives and Tasks of the PK NRW
he Doctoral School NRW has a legal mandate to promote and conduct doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences (UAS) in North Rhine-Westphalia. At the same time, it brings together the scientific expertise of these universities and supports the development of their research profiles. For early-career researchers, it provides an excellent environment for academic qualification.
The central objectives of the Doctoral School NRW are as follows:
Promoting Doctoral Studies at Universities of Applied Sciences
- Conducting doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia (either within a doctoral program of the Doctoral School NRW or in cooperation with universities)
- Promoting academic qualification and scholarly exchange among doctoral candidates
- Bringing together interested and qualified professors from universities of applied sciences and universities with the goal of jointly supervising doctoral candidates
- Ensuring non-discriminatory access to doctoral studies for graduates of universities of applied sciences
- Strengthening research through academic networking
Supporting the Development of Institutional Research Profiles at Universities of Applied Sciences
- Unlocking the potential of universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia in the areas of research and knowledge transfer
- Strengthening application-oriented research
- Enhancing the attractiveness of universities of applied sciences for excellent students and professors
- Establishing reliable structures and processes for doctoral candidates at universities of applied sciences
- Expanding the number of doctoral graduates who are highly qualified within the research profile of the universities of applied sciences — including with a view to developing their own future academic faculty
Doctoral Opportunities at the Doctoral School NRW
The primary task of the Doctoral School NRW is to support and conduct doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences (HAW) in North Rhine-Westphalia. To this end, it offers and promotes two pathways toward earning a doctorate:
Research at the Doctoral School NRW
Research at the Doctoral School NRW takes place within and across its departments. It reflects the collaborative research efforts of outstanding professors and doctoral candidates from various universities of applied sciences (HAW) and universities, all working together within the framework of the Doctoral School.
The Doctoral School NRW is guided by a concept that is characterized by both cooperation and division of labor. This means that doctoral candidates and supervising professors conduct their research at their respective home institutions. The universities define their strategic research priorities and provide the infrastructure necessary for research. At the same time, doctoral candidates and professors are integrated into the network of the Doctoral School NRW, which forms their overarching academic environment.
This network connects researchers across institutional boundaries, promotes cooperation, coordinates and organizes qualification events, colloquia, and conferences, and ensures the quality of doctoral studies and procedures.
Distinctive Features of Research at the Doctoral School NRW
1. Application Orientation
Research at the Doctoral School NRW focuses on application-oriented inquiry. This means that research is conducted in fields specific to universities of applied sciences with the goal of developing practical solutions to current social challenges and problems.
Through collaborations with partners from industry, politics, and civil society, scientific findings are also translated into technological and social innovations that provide tangible societal benefits.
2. Inter- and Transdisciplinarity
A defining characteristic of research at universities of applied sciences is its inter- and transdisciplinary nature. The Doctoral School NRW takes this into account through the organization of its departments, which deliberately differ from the traditional university division into faculties or disciplines.
While each department maintains a disciplinary foundation, it also engages with interdisciplinary research questions. The new knowledge generated through interdisciplinary research is examined and contextualized within the contributing disciplines, ensuring both breadth and depth of academic inquiry.
3. Networking
The Doctoral School NRW serves as the research network of the universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia. Scientific collaboration takes place within its departments, where professors and doctoral candidates from different universities interact and collaborate.
These departments bring together the research expertise of the universities of applied sciences, often around interdisciplinary topics. Within each department, research is organized into thematic clusters that foster focused collaboration and exchange.
4. Supportive Environment
The goal of the Doctoral School NRW is to provide doctoral candidates and professors with an optimal, cross-institutional research environment in which they can pursue application-oriented research.
Through its doctoral programs and central measures to promote further qualification and the professional development of early-career researchers, the Doctoral School NRW supports doctoral candidates in establishing themselves as independent scholars—both in Germany and abroad.
Internationalization
The Doctoral School NRW is committed to the values of a European and global academic community. Together with its departments, it will systematically expand and strengthen its internationalization activities in the coming years. The overarching goal is to enhance international research collaboration and to enable doctoral candidates to conduct research, communicate, and discuss their results within an international context.
At the central level, the Doctoral School NRW conceptually integrates measures to promote research stays and conference participation abroad for early-career researchers. Furthermore, it systematically supports the development of foreign language skills and intercultural competencies through qualification workshops and training activities.
At the departmental level, department-specific as well as cross-departmental measures and strategies are established and consolidated to build and expand international research cooperation and exchange formats. International collaborations at both the project and institutional levels play a central role in this regard. In addition, measures to strengthen “Internationalization at Home”—that is, the integration of international perspectives and interactions within local academic settings—are also being discussed and developed.
The expansion of international activities will complement the diverse and long-standing internationalization efforts already in place at the member universities of the Doctoral School NRW.
Gender Equality
As an institution dedicated to the advancement of outstanding early-career researchers, the Doctoral School NRW is firmly committed to embedding gender equality policies at every level of its organization. In this spirit, it implements measures that position gender equality as a cross-cutting theme throughout the institution and make it clearly visible.
Gender equality is understood as providing equitable access to positions and resources and is aimed at achieving gender justice in both academia and administration. Accordingly, the gender equality activities of the Doctoral School NRW focus on three core areas: supporting early-career researchers, promoting equal participation in academic self-governance, and ensuring fairness within administrative structures.
As both an employer and an institution that supports doctoral studies, the Doctoral School NRW ensures the compatibility of family and professional life as well as family and doctoral studies. Work–life balance is therefore treated as a fundamental component of the institution’s gender equality mission.
The Executive Board of the Doctoral School NRW is responsible for implementing the institution’s gender equality objectives and measures, with gender equality strategically anchored at this level. The central gender equality officer and the decentralized equality officers serve as contact persons for all gender equality matters. They provide advice and support in developing concepts and implementing concrete measures.
Quality Assurance
A central concern of the Doctoral School NRW is to ensure the quality of doctoral studies. Regular quality controls are conducted to enforce high standards, prevent scientific misconduct, and maintain a high academic level in doctoral projects. The processes and procedures, the organization of the School, and the work of its departments are regularly evaluated to verify compliance with its higher education mandate. When necessary, appropriate measures are taken to secure and further develop the quality of the School’s programs and procedures.
Evaluation
The evaluation regulations are a key component of quality assurance. The Doctoral School NRW views evaluation as a tool for self-governance and external accountability, particularly toward its member universities, the state, and the public. Evaluation serves to continuously safeguard and improve the quality of doctoral studies by ensuring supervision, guaranteeing scientifically excellent doctoral programs and research, and maintaining appropriate organizational structures for early-career researcher development.
Evaluation involves the systematic collection, processing, and publication of data to assess the quality of doctoral activities, departmental performance, and the School’s overall organization in fulfilling its higher education mandate. Constitutive elements of quality assurance through evaluation include self-reports, involvement of external experts, participation of the scientific advisory board, and engagement of the School’s self-governing bodies. The results of evaluations are discussed in the relevant committees, and follow-up measures are derived accordingly.
Good Scientific Practice and Responsibility in Science
Adherence to the principles of good scientific practice and the consideration of responsibilities in research are also of high importance in quality assurance at the Doctoral School NRW. Compliance with standards and procedures to ensure high scientific quality and academic integrity is regarded as an integral part of research that fundamentally contributes to the legitimacy of scientific findings.
The Doctoral School NRW implements measures to inform and sensitize researchers, ensuring adherence to both established scientific standards and ethical principles throughout the entire research process. The first point of contact for questions regarding scientific misconduct or research responsibility is always the relevant office at the candidate’s home university. The Doctoral School NRW is only contacted directly in exceptional cases or when it is directly affected.
In cases of suspected scientific misconduct that directly concerns the Doctoral School NRW’s responsibilities or the conduct of doctoral studies, the Ombudsperson of the School serves as the first point of contact. As a neutral and trusted advisor, the Ombudsperson provides guidance on questions of good scientific practice in general and, in particular, in cases where suspected misconduct has come to their attention.
The Commission for Responsibility in Science advises and supports members and affiliates of the Doctoral School NRW regarding research projects under their responsibility. It provides recommendations on ethically relevant aspects before and during the execution of research projects.
