First transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ project team

On 14-15 July 2022, the first transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ project No. 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917 entitled The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness took place at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovak Republic). The main coordinator of the project, doc. PhDr. Andrea Grominová, PhD., welcomed and introduced the members of the research team of the partner universities. She then introduced the project objectives, practical outcomes and the benefits. On the first day of the meeting, a discussion on administrative and financial issues was also on the agenda, where everyone could share their suggestions and comments. The meeting was followed by a joint lunch and an excursion to the most famous sights of Trnava, which was arranged by the doctoral students of the Department of Russian Studies of the Faculty of Arts of UCM, Mgr. Igor Cintula and Mgr. Tamara Mujkošová.

On the second day of the transnational meeting, the members of the research team had the opportunity to get acquainted with the system of teaching doctoral study programs at partner universities. Doc. PhDr. Andrea Grominová, PhD. presented the conditions of admission and study at the Department of Russian Studies of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. Prof. PhDr. Josef Dohnal, CSc. presented the teaching of doctoral study programs at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic), which has a long tradition. Doc. Simón José Suárez Cuadros, Ph.D. presented the system of doctoral programs at the Department of Greek and Slavic Philology of the University of Granada (Spain). During the meeting, the implementation of the first result Elaboration of analysis of doctoral programs at participating universities, eliminating weaknesses of analyzed programs and proposals for their innovation in order to increase their efficiency, which will present an analysis of doctoral programs at all three partner universities and recommendations for eliminating possible weaknesses of the analyzed programs, was also planned. We strongly believe that the cooperation of the partner universities on this project will produce quality outputs that will increase the efficiency of the preparation of future graduates of doctoral programs not only at the participating universities.

Second transnational meeting of Erasmus+ participants

On 10-11 January 2023, the second transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ project No. 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917 entitled The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness took place. This time the meeting was held at the Institute of Slavonic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno.

The main objective of the second transnational meeting was to define the specific form and content of the forthcoming second intellectual output of the project, in which the modules aimed at improving the hard skills of doctoral students in Russian Studies not only at the partner universities will be developed on the basis of the analysis of doctoral study programs at the participating universities (Intellectual Output I).

The transnational meeting started with a welcome speech by the Vice Dean for Studies at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University in Brno, Mgr. Josef Šaura, Ph.D., who then gave the floor to the main coordinator of the project, doc. PhDr. Andrea Grominova, PhD. On the first day of the meeting, the agenda included an evaluation of the cooperation so far on the first intellectual output entitled Elaboration of analysis of doctoral programs at participating universities, eliminating weaknesses of analyzed programs and proposals for their innovation in order to increase their efficiency which is published in two languages (English and Russian, published on the websites of the partner universities, and thus successfully completed). A discussion on the specific form and content of the second intellectual output followed, with everyone sharing their suggestions and comments. The first part of the working meeting was followed by a joint lunch.

After lunch, the meeting continued with a discussion in working groups (linguistics and literature), which enabled the refinement of the proposal for the specific content of the individual modules that will make up the second intellectual outcome of the project. The first day ended with an excursion to the most important places and monuments of Brno.

On the second day of the transnational meeting, the project participants agreed to set up international working groups that will be responsible for the design of the individual modules. At the same time, the deadlines and the method of communication were set.

The transnational meeting significantly strengthened mutual relations, which is one of the important prerequisites for effective collaboration on further intellectual outputs. We are convinced that just as the second transnational meeting was held in a "constructive spirit", so will continue further cooperation between the universities on this project.

Third transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ KA220 project team

The third transnational meeting of the members of the Erasmus+ KA220 project The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programmes and increasing their effectiveness (№ 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917) took place on 21 and 22 June 2023, this time at the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation of the University of Granada. The meeting was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Translation and Interpretation, Professor Enrique Quero Gervilla, who welcomed all present and wished a successful meeting. He then handed over the floor to the project coordinator for the University of Granada, Associate Professor Simón J. Suárez Cuadros, Vice Dean for Internationalisation and Mobility. The main coordinator of the project, Associate Professor Andrea Grominová (University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia) evaluated the cooperation on the second intellectual output, thanking especially Professor Josef Dohnal and the publishing house of Masaryk University in Brno (Munipress), and opened a discussion on how to develop the third intellectual output. At a two-day working meeting, attended by all members of the research team, the exact timetable for the completion of the partial results of the third intellectual output was agreed upon, the content and formal requirements were defined, working groups were formed, and the question of opponents or reviewers of the output was resolved. Financial issues, work reports, and other administrative matters related to the running of the project were also discussed. In addition, the team members also agreed on further joint scientific studies and presentation of the project at international congresses, conferences, and forums. At the end of the second day of the meeting, certificates were presented to the participants.

The third transnational meeting was, among other things, the result of the effective cooperation of the representatives of all three partner universities. We believe that all the practical outcomes of the project will be useful study material and a valuable source of information for doctoral students and teachers working in doctoral studies in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Spain, and other countries of the world.

A report on the meeting was also published on the University of Granada website: https://www.ugr.es/universidad/noticias/iii-reunion-transnacional-proyecto-europeo-innovationphd

Fourth transnational meeting of Erasmus+ KA 220 project participants

On 18-19.01.2024 the fourth transnational meeting of participants of the Erasmus+ project No. 2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917 entitled The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness took place at the Institute of Slavonic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno.

The meeting started with an introductory speech of the main project coordinator assoc. prof. PhDr. Andrea Grominova, PhD., who welcomed all the project researchers and introduced the meeting objectives. A short discussion was followed by the presentation of the results of the third stage of the project, namely the output entitled Elaboration of digital methodological-didactic recommendations and study materials for doctoral students in the field of soft skills. The face-to-face meeting allowed for a fruitful discussion on concrete forms of collaboration during the preparation of the materials for this intellectual output. This session was followed by a lunch.

The second part of the meeting was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University assoc. prof. Mgr. Irena Radová, PhD. The partners shared valuable experience and comments on the practical application of methodological manuals (second and third intellectual outcomes) in practice at the doctoral level of education. The handbooks are successfully applied in the educational process at all participating universities. In this way, full-time and part-time doctoral students improve their hard and soft skills, which are essential both for the completion of the doctoral degree and for their successful employment in job market.

The main focus of the second day, 19.01.2024, was a discussion on the organisation of the work in preparation for the next intellectual outcome of the project (a two-day methodological seminar for doctoral students of the participating universities), in which everyone shared their suggestions and comments. Space was also created for feedback on the report on the first three stages of the project. It was also necessary to discuss the economic factors of the project solution and to establish the communication methods and a concrete timetable for the next stages of cooperation in its implementation.

The final word was delivered by the main project coordinator assoc. prof. PhDr. Andrea Grominová, PhD. Subsequently, certificates of participation in this transnational meeting were distributed to all participants. 

We can conclude that this meeting was also held in the traditionally pleasant working atmosphere and cooperation was strengthened. We believe that the meeting will greatly contribute to the quality preparation and implementation of the methodological seminar, where the results of the project's activities will be presented.

Fifth transnational meeting of project team members

The fifth transnational meeting of the Erasmus+ grant project The innovation of the concept and curriculum of doctoral study programs and increasing their effectiveness (2021-1-SK01-KA220-HED-000022917) was held on 10 and 11 June 2024 at the University of Granada, with the participation of assoc. Prof. Andrea Grominová, prof. Oleh V. Tyshchenko, Assoc. Prof. Lukáš Gajarský, Dr. Andrea Spišiaková (University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava), prof. Josef Dohnal (Masaryk University in Brno), prof. Simón José Suárez Cuadros, prof. Benamí Barros García and Dr. Irina Votyakova (University of Granada).

On the first day of the meeting, the members of the research team evaluated the implementation of the fourth intellectual output of the project, namely the methodological seminar for PhD students, during which the first three outputs in English and Russian were presented, as well as its contribution and feedback from students. Discussions were also held on how to use them in the curricula of all three partner universities.

The aim of the second day of the meeting was to discuss the preparation of a multiplier event, which will be a conference for doctoral students and teachers who teach in doctoral programmes. The conference will be held in January 2025 at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava and will be a platform for the presentation of the results of scientific research not only of doctoral students and their teachers of partner universities, but also of other Slovak and foreign departments of Russian and Slavic studies.

We believe that the conference will be a successful culmination of the project and that its results will find their use in Russian and Slavonic doctoral study programmes.