Graduate Center

The Graduate Center serves as a central scientific institution of TH Köln that represents the interests of doctoral researchers, postdocs, and supervisors. In cooperation with the faculties and other institutions, Graduate Center pursues the high-quality qualification of doctoral researchers as well as the promotion of young scientists after their doctorate.

Graduate Center TH Köln (Image: TH Köln)

Structure of Graduate Center

The Graduate Center is a central scientific institution of TH Köln, which represents the interests of doctoral researchers, postdocs and supervisors. The head of the Graduate Center being the Vice President for Research and Knowledge Transfer, it comprises the Standing Comittee for Promotion of Early-Career Researchers (Ständige Kommission zur Förderung von Wissenschaftler*innen früher Karrierestufen). All doctoral researchers and postdocs at TH Köln are represented by the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers Convention. The bodies are supported by Graduate Center's service desk.

In addition, there is close cooperation with the Graduate School for Applied Research in North Rhine-Westphalia (PK NRW), which allows doctoral projects to be realized in structured doctoral programs.

Objective

The aim of Graduate Center is to ensure a high-quality qualification for doctoral researchers and to promote young scientists after completing their doctorate in line with the goals of the university development plan (Hochschulentwicklungsplan) and the self-image of the university. From doctorates in structured programs to individual doctorates to external doctorates - the Graduate Center supports all forms of doctorates. The Graduate Center signs responsible for all matters of doctoral researchers and Postdocs at TH Köln that are related to their research activities here, subject to the statutory and otherwise regulated responsibilities.

Tasks

Service desk of Graduate Center is a place of contact, advice, information and support for those who are interested in pursuing a doctorate, doctoral researchers, Postdocs as well as for all other university members and associates who are involved in promoting early-stage researchers
Interdisciplinary qualification offers for the best possible support during the doctoral and Postdoc phase as well as for the further career path
Advising university members on issues relating to the promotion of early-stage researchers
Measures and instruments for quality assurance and improvement
Ensuring compliance with the principles of good scientific practice
Support in the planning and development of (further) structured doctoral programs at TH Köln
Funding measures for early-stage researchers

Discipline-related Programs

In addition to the individual doctorate, TH Köln has currently established specialist doctoral colloquia and doctoral programs at the faculty level. In addition, TH Köln is involved in a number of publicly funded doctoral colleges as part of a structured doctoral training program. Show more

Exchange and networking

The networking of doctoral researchers within the university and with the respective scientific community is an important success factor for your doctorate. Find out more about the official representation by the doctoral researcher convention and about informal opportunities for networking with other doctoral researchers. Show more

TH Köln member of EUA-CDE

TH Köln is a member of the Council for Doctoral Education of the European University Association (EUA-CDE). By promoting collaboration and exchange of good practices among its members and disseminating the outcomes of its work, EUA-CDE makes an important contribution to the development of doctoral education and research training in Europe.

TH Köln is associate member of GUAT

TH Köln was accepted as an associate member of the German University Association of Advanced Graduate Training (UniWiND/GUAT), thus confirming the promotion of early-stage researchers as a central task of the university. GUAT is committed to optimizing the qualification conditions for doctoral researchers and scientists in the postdoc phase in order to provide them with the best possible opportunities for future careers within and outside of academia.