“The three-day Winter School brought together PhD candidates from different countries. The aim of the Winter School was to support the exchange of research perspectives, promote interdisciplinary dialogue, and strengthen collaboration among doctoral candidates and faculty from partner universities within the Alliance. Its main goals were to develop research skills, support academic networking, and encourage international cooperation.
On the first day, Friday 21 November, PhD participants attended helpful courses such as The PhD candidate’s skills, English as the Academic Lingua Franca. In workshop, we working groups discussed various issues related to PhD writing.
The second day, Saturday 22 November, focused on an interesting topic: Emerging Ethical Issues: Research Data and the Use of AI in Research, we discussed AI methods and issues.
The second day of the program and the third day, Sunday 23 November, were dedicated to PhD candidates’ presentations, where we shared our research results. This was important for developing presentation skills, increasing confidence, and gaining experience in answering questions from a wide audience, as the presentations were streamed on the WebEx and YouTube platforms.
Overall, the International Winter School was highly successful. It was helpful for improving presentation skills, gaining new knowledge, and expanding academic networks. Thank you for this opportunity!.”

Anastasija Čerkesa

“Doctoral candidates and PhD researchers from Daugavpils University had the opportunity to take part in the 1st International Winter School for doctoral candidates held in Athens and organised by the OpenEU Alliance and its partner universities. I had the privilege of participating in this science communication event in person.
Over the course of three days, doctoral candidates and early-stage researchers from various fields worked actively in thematic groups. We discussed and analysed key challenges faced during doctoral studies — conducting research, building supportive academic relationships, communicating with supervisors, as well as managing independent work and time planning. Participants exchanged perspectives and proposed potential solutions.
Together with professors from OpenEU universities and local supervisors, we addressed the future challenges of doctoral education and suggested concrete improvements. Throughout all three days, participants presented their PhD research topics, shared experiences, and received valuable feedback.
The Winter School provided an excellent opportunity to explore Athens’ cultural heritage, establish new professional connections, and represent Daugavpils University in strengthening international cooperation and advancing scientific development.”

Jevgenija Sivoronova (Zinātnes dokotora kandidāte sociālajās zinātnēs)