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A total of twelve early-career researchers began an ESF-funded PhD project at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences at the start of January.
As part of the ESF+ Higher Education and Research programme, under the ‘Cooperative PhD’ module, a total of 100 scholarships have been advertised since 2021. Candidates from 12 universities in Saxony were eligible to apply for these.
It is particularly pleasing that, over the last four years, 41 of the 100 grants have been awarded to PhD candidates at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences who are carrying out their doctoral projects in collaboration with universities. The remainder are mainly distributed amongst the four other universities of applied sciences and the four universities in the Free State of Saxony.
The doctoral projects are funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), which aims to improve employment and educational opportunities in Europe. The objectives of ESF funding include strengthening the economic region, increasing employment opportunities, promoting collaboration with businesses, and strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions.
Project leader Professor Matthias Baumgart from the Faculty Applied Computer Sciences and Biosciences is delighted that the topic of collaborative doctoral studies occupies such a prominent place in Mittweida University of Applied Sciences’ academic portfolio: With a total of 22 academic staff members from all five faculties and the Laser Institute at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences acting as academic supervisors for the 41 doctoral candidates, this clearly demonstrates both the breadth of the university’s research output and its commitment to supervising doctoral projects.
At the kick-off meeting in December 2024, he prepared the new PhD candidates for the coming four-year funding period. Professor Baumgart encouraged everyone to publish and to take part in academic events, such as the upcoming conferences for early-career researchers. The funded doctoral candidates are taking part in the doctoral programme, which is jointly led by Professors Marc Ritter and Matthias Baumgart. There, they are developing, amongst other things, their interdisciplinary skills in the areas of teaching, social skills, project management and gender equality.
We wish all early-career researchers every success in carrying out their doctoral projects! An overview of the funded doctoral candidates and their research projects can be found at the following link: https://www.forschung.hs-mittweida.de/promovieren-an-der-hsmw/esf-promotionen-2025
Text: Annett Kober, Prof. Matthias Baumgart
Photos: Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, private, photo collage: Annett Kober
