Strong voices for doctoral students: New representation at the University of Vechta!

Strong voices for doctoral students: New representation at the University of Vechta!

On March 18, 2025, the doctoral student representatives at the University of Vechta presented their new line-up. With a clear goal, the elected representatives bring the voice of doctoral students into decision-making processes and committees at the university. The representatives are made up of four committed doctoral students: Jacqueline Knopp and Kai Heermann from Faculty I and Anjilie Stuke and Rudolf Thomas Inderst from Faculty II. Their election took place on January 21, 2025. This formal decision was made as part of the resolution of the expanded Academic Senate in July 2023, which provides for a decentralized election of doctoral student representatives in the faculties.

The representatives bring with them comprehensive topics and experiences in their respective research fields. Anjilie Stuke researches this Biodiversity of polychaetes in the German North and Baltic Seas and focuses on the effects of climate change and invasive species. Rudolf Thomas Inderst analyzes dystopian representations in digital games in his dissertation. His work offers insights into digital narrative structures and their social relevance. Jacqueline Knopp deals with family upbringing in the digital space, while Kai Heermann examines the ethical competencies of social workers.

Challenges and goals of doctoral students

The doctoral student representation brings a variety of concerns to the university. Stuke emphasizes that she particularly wants to represent external doctoral candidates. Inderst illustrates the challenge of financial insecurities that burden many graduate students. Knopp and Heermann emphasize the importance of workshops and network meetings to improve conditions for doctoral students and reduce loneliness.

The current situation in doctoral culture is influenced by various factors. These include a lack of time due to part-time jobs, inadequate support and bureaucratic hurdles that need to be overcome. Anjilie Stuke emphasizes that representation is about creating synergies and promoting exchange. Inderst and Knopp would like to actively incorporate the needs of doctoral students into committees and draw attention to challenges.

Support and future prospects

The doctoral student representation strives to optimize the visibility and interests of doctoral students. The plans also include organizing networks to exchange experiences and develop solutions to prevailing problems. You have the mandate to send a person to the Academic Senate to participate directly in shaping the doctoral conditions.

In addition, the Center for Junior Scholars (CJS) is an important institution that supports the development of representation. The path to improving doctoral conditions is gaining increasing momentum through the participation of doctoral representatives in decision-making processes. There are already successor candidates in Faculties I and V, which shows that the initiative is on fertile ground.

The University of Vechta strives to create a supportive environment for doctoral students by not only working on the introduction of new positions, but also by showing an active interest in the doctoral students' topics. This is particularly important at a time when the challenges of doctoral studies are a burden for many young scientists Doctoral Forum shows.