Elements designed for the three-year doctoral education pilot are already being made widely available for all doctoral education at the University of Helsinki.
A year ago, a doctoral education pilot funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture was launched in Finland. The admitted applicants are expected to complete their doctoral theses over a three-year period of employment.
The pilot sees new doctoral researchers learning skills needed in both research and professional life. Another goal is to increase doctoral graduates' diverse employment in society.
Diverse training and community integration at base camps
At the University of Helsinki, , starting in two stages and .
Nationalities of participants in the doctoral education pilot
In addition to an orientation session, those admitted had the chance to get acquainted with each other and the University of Helsinki at two 'base camps', held for three and four days at , , and .
The camps included both educational programming as well as events that boosted group formation and a community spirit. The participants had the opportunity to delve hands-on into topics including artificial intelligence, sustainability, interdisciplinary collaboration and science communication.
"The Base Camp concept was developed before the pilot. The camps have been organised specifically for doctoral researchers recruited for salaried positions funded by the University of Helsinki Research Foundation. Based on the experience, we thought it would be a viable concept for providing orientation to doctoral researchers participating in the pilot. At the base camps, they learn important skills right from the beginning of their doctoral thesis process. The events also effectively build team spirit and solidarity," says Sini Karppinen, who is a team leader in the doctoral education pilot at the University of Helsinki.
Joint courses and events
Besides the base camps, pilot participants have attended peer mentoring sessions, writing workshops and other events for doctoral researchers. Organised in the beginning of June, was filled with events ranging from the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Showdown to workshops and networking sessions, not forgetting the popular PhD Summerfest organised each year.
The topics explored in the workshops included career planning, the benefits of learning Finnish and innovation. The week also included talks by previous doctoral graduates now working as industry specialists.
The Doctoral Experience Week will be held again next spring, now encompassing all doctoral researchers by adding to the roster more events tailored to specific doctoral programmes and disciplines.
The feedback collected from the pilot's doctoral researchers on orientation and the base camps indicates satisfaction. An intensive first term has provided them with the necessary information to initiate their doctoral thesis process while boosting inclusivity.
"We will continue to offer a diverse range of support through targeted events. And starting this autumn, we will be making practices tried and tested in the doctoral education pilot available to all doctoral researchers at the University. In October and November, we will again organise base camps, develop orientation and add new features to Thessa, the planning and reporting tool for postgraduate studies at the University of Helsinki," Sini Karppinen says.
A Moodle course to support all doctoral thesis supervisors
Doctoral thesis supervision is a vital element of effective doctoral education. A Moodle course offered by the University, including a material bank, provides supervisors with tools and perspectives that support both doctoral researchers' work and the supervisors' own professional development.
Designed for supervisors of doctoral researchers participating in the doctoral education pilot, the course has now been opened to anyone supervising doctoral theses at the University.
"Through sustained investment, the University ensures that doctoral researchers grow into scholars and experts in a safe, encouraging and responsible supervisory relationship. We want supervisors to have the best possible tools in support of this work," says Director of the Doctoral School Minna Palander-Collin.
The online material focuses on, among other things, effective supervision practices, such as interaction, regular supervision sessions, the clarification of shared expectations and support for writing. In addition, research integrity and ethics are discussed.
The course offers supervisors concrete ways to provide feedback, support career planning and build networks. It also urges them to consider their way of supervising, learn from their colleagues and utilise the support available at the University. To support supervisors, the course includes a material bank comprising the key guidelines and regulations pertaining to the doctoral thesis process at the University of Helsinki.
The aim is to expand the pilot to a wider audience, utilising the experiences gained to further develop the course. In future, this will benefit the entire University community: the quality of supervision will improve, doctoral education will harmonise and doctoral researchers will be better equipped for their future career paths.
In early 2026, a previously piloted coaching programme for doctoral thesis supervisors will also be made available to all.
