We Celebrate Doctoral Graduates and Doctoral Education on May 13th
Futures in Applied Research – Voices, Paths and Impacts in Saxony-Anhalt
May 13, 2026 from 1 pm
online
Since 2021, the Universities of Applied Sciences in Saxony-Anhalt have held the right to award doctorates within their own accredited Doctoral Centers. This milestone builds on many years of experience in cooperative doctoral projects and reflects a strong, internationally connected research environment.
Together the Universities of Applied Sciences in Saxony-Anhalt celebrate the European Doctoral Day with a joint online event and invite prospective doctoral candidates from Germany and around the world to explore what pursuing a doctorate at our universities looks like.
Doctoral candidates involved in our International Graduate Academy on topics related to the European Green Deal (InterGrad-EGD) share their experiences and talk about motivation, admission routes, daily research life and career perspectives inside and outside academia. Science communication formats showcase how applied doctoral research contributes to innovation and society.
Join us to explore doctoral pathways in Saxony-Anhalt and discover your futures in applied research at a University of Applied Sciences in Saxony-Anhalt.
The Event is hosted by Merseburg University of Applied Sciences and moderated by Elena Strempek.
The European Doctoral Day is an initiative of various universities and research institutions. It aims to affirm the central importance of doctoral education and highlights the role of doctoral candidates as driving forces of innovation in society and for humanity, crucial for addressing the challenges of a world in transition and securing Europe's scientific, economic, industrial, and technological future. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences has been participating in the initiative since its inception and is happy to play an active role.
→ see more on the official website
Event Program
| 1:00 pm | Introduction, Words of Welcome |
| 1:15 pm | Interview with Carolin Rautenberg & Joseph Smithard (both Anhalt University of Applied Sciences) on the initial stages, daily work, and the supervision relationship |
| 2:00 pm | Break |
| 2:15 pm | Experience report: Sonam (Merseburg University of Applied Sciences) shares her story of recently completing her doctoral studies and where her path might lead her next |
| 2:45 pm | Experience report: Zonghan Jiang (Anhalt University of Applied Sciences); What is it like to finance your doctoral studies with a scholarship? |
| 3:15 pm | Break |
| 3:30 pm | Flash Talks: Current doctoral students take on the 3-Minute-Pitch Challenge |
| 4:30 pm | End of the event |
Minor changes to the program may occur as planning progresses.
Contact
A joint activity of the Universities of Anhalt, Harz, Magdeburg-Stendal, and Merseburg.
Thank you for this successful kickoff!
On May 13, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the four universities of applied sciences in Saxony-Anhalt, welcomed around 50 prospective doctoral students from Germany and abroad to the online event “Futures in Applied Research – Voices, Paths, and Impacts in Saxony-Anhalt.” With this event, we contributed to the total of 180 events held worldwide for European Doctoral Day, thereby strengthening the establishment of this international day of action. The event received special recognition through the personal interest and political support of Minister President Sven Schulze. In his video message, he praised the European Doctoral Day as a clear sign of support for the early career researchers in Europe, in Germany, and specifically in Saxony-Anhalt. He noted the steadily rising number of doctoral degrees, which further solidifies Saxony-Anhalt’s position as a forward-looking hub for research. He also highlighted the high quality of life and work, as well as the numerous opportunities the region offers researchers at all stages of their careers.
The organizer, Maria Löffler, thanks the moderator, the speakers, the advisors, and the participants for the successful event and sees the positive response as an incentive to further expand the European Doctoral Day in the future, thereby raising the profile of doctoral candidates and inspiring even more people to pursue a doctorate in Saxony-Anhalt.
Let our recap take you on a journey through the success story of the first European Doctoral Day.
Bildergalerie
With the Kind Support of
Funding
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the state of Saxony-Anhalt
BMFTR's federal-state program "FH Personal"
