Qualification Concept

The training concept of the Graduate School GRACE is based on the three pillars of internationality, assistance and qualification. GRACE PhD students are supported in establishing international contacts and gaining experience abroad through various funding opportunities. Through their GRACE Personal Steering Group, PhD students are supported in their scientific career and related matters. The GRACE curriculum offers each doctoral student an individually tailored training program to develop a broad range of scientific and personal skills.

Internationality

Internationalism is one of the fundamental concepts of the Graduate School GRACE, which is also explicitly promoted. For example, a longer stay abroad is mandatory for each GRACE PhD student. Furthermore, the international orientation will be shown by:

  • funding of a research stay abroad of up to three months
  • funding of a guest scientist program
  • funding of international summer schools

Curriculum Structure

As part of the GRACE curriculum, PhD students acquire new scientific and personal skills through participation in events and workshops of the GRACE Science School.
In total, 12 ECTS are acquired in the GRACE curriculum, which are to be chosen from the three module categories: topic-related, cross-cutting and competence skills.

The topic-related module supports students in the acquisition of theoretical and methodological fundamentals and advanced courses in cutting edge approaches and methods for environmental sciences. A high relevance for environmental sciences has the development of skills concerning system analysis and interpretation which is promoted by the courses within the cross-cutting module. In addition to scientific skills, personal, social and methodological competences play an essential role for a successful doctorate and are strengthened by the courses of the competence skills module.

Personal Steering Group

Special emphasis is placed on supporting PhD students with regard to their doctoral development and in all administrative matters. Each PhD student is guided by a Personal Steering Group (PSG) which typically consists of three researchers in the student's field. They must hold a PhD, but they do not need to be professors. Usually, the PSG includes

  • the supervisor in charge,
  • a senior scientist or group leader at KIT, and
  • a member from another institute at KIT or another research institution.

The PSG provides comprehensive guidance on scientific matters and serves as a personal support group throughout the entire PhD project.

After the research aims have been defined, the first PSG meeting should take place within six months, followed by biannual meetings. The main objectives of these meetings are to monitor progress, adjust PhD objectives, and develop a detailed work plan. Regular monthly informal group meetings and annual progress reports submitted to the PSG members help to ensure continuous progress.