Hosted by La Rochelle Université and coordinated by the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB), this year’s Summer School offered a transformative academic experience focused on Scientific Methodology and Academic Communication.
As part of the EU-CONEXUS PhD Level Joint Actions Framework —a joint, flexible, and innovative programme coordinated by UTCB —the Summer School promotes interdisciplinary, cross-sector training with learning outcomes that target both research excellence and professional development. Throughout the week, participants engaged in expert-led workshops on qualitative and quantitative research methods, academic writing and publishing, science communication, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Transversal and soft skills were also developed through group activities such as the “3-minute thesis” challenge, team collaboration exercises, and peer feedback sessions.
In her statement, Dr. Loretta Batali, Director of the Council for Doctoral Studies at UTCB, emphasised the value of the event for early-stage researchers across the alliance:
“EU-CONEXUS PhD Summer School is an annual event for PhD students where they can follow lectures and workshops in a multi- and interdisciplinary environment, as well as a multicultural one. The Summer School is mainly focusing on transversal and soft skills needed for a future career and on group work aimed at preparing the abstract of a future scientific paper. This is an opportunity for PhD students of the EU-CONEXUS partner universities to meet, work together, open new research directions, establish a professional network, and discover new cultures.”
Dr. Cristiana Croitoru, Director of the Doctoral School at UTCB and one of the organisers of the event, reflected on the collaborative impact of the Summer School:
“It concluded with a group assignment —draughting a scientific review article, which will now be submitted for publication in the open access journal, EU-CONEXUS CoReS. This Summer School highlights the value of international cooperation, fostering academic excellence, teamwork, and key transversal skills essential for Europe’s next generation of researchers.”
UTCB, as the alliance-level coordinator of the PhD Joint Actions Framework, plays a pivotal role in shaping this annual event.
Dr. Ilinca Năstase, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and International Relations at UTCB, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting excellence in doctoral education:
“At UTCB, we are proud to coordinate, at the EU-CONEXUS level, the work package that organises the annual PhD Summer School —a key initiative that reflects our shared commitment to fostering excellence in doctoral education. This Summer School not only reinforces the importance of high-quality, interdisciplinary research but also provides our PhD students with a unique opportunity to engage in international collaboration, develop critical transversal skills, and contribute to innovative scientific dialogue. We firmly believe that such experiences are essential for shaping the next generation of researchers and positioning them as active contributors to the sustainable development of Europe’s coastal urban areas and beyond.”
The EU-CONEXUS PhD Summer School continues to stand as a beacon of collaborative academic advancement, providing doctoral candidates with the tools, networks, and mindset required to thrive in a transnational research environment. As the alliance prepares for its next edition in 2026, the impact of this year’s Summer School will continue to resonate through the publications, partnerships, and professional growth of all participants. The full agenda of this year’s Summer School can be accessed here.
