Share ideas, make contacts, boost your doctoral qualification
International workshop brings early-career researchers together in Magdeburg
A doctoral qualification rarely begins with certainties. At the outset, there are many questions: Is my idea really new? Which methods will lead to the desired outcome? And how can a research project be developed in such a way that it results in a successful doctoral qualification? At the end of June 2026, 17 early-career researchers from nine countries came to our university in search of answers to these questions. At the 19th ‘International Doctoral Students Workshop on Logistics, Supply Chain and Production Management’ (IDWL), they presented their research projects for discussion, received feedback from experienced academics and forged international contacts – an important foundation for their future academic careers.
Organised annually by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, the workshop is aimed primarily at doctoral candidates at the start of their doctoral qualifications. Unlike a traditional academic conference, the focus is not on finalised results. Participants further develop their research ideas, refine their research questions and, together with experienced academics, explore how their doctoral qualification research can be structured effectively. “PhD study can be an isolating journey. IDWL brings together PhD students and experts to share ideas, exchange knowledge, build connections, and inspire one another,” says Dr.-Ing. Jettarat Janmontree, a research assistant at IEPS, describing the concept behind the workshop.
PhD students and supervisors from Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Turkey, India, Thailand, Cuba and Mexico travelled to Magdeburg for this year’s workshop. In total, participants from twelve universities and research institutions were represented. Prof. N. I. Coello Machado from the University of Santa Clara in Cuba emphasises the international significance of the event: “This international doctoral workshop offers a unique opportunity to develop human resources in these disciplines in a consistent manner across the globe, and over the years has made a valuable contribution to the training of teaching and research staff at various Cuban institutions and universities. It has also acted as a catalyst for international relations and cooperation, for which there are exemplary examples. Thank you very much for this opportunity.”
Supporting doctoral candidates on their academic journey
The aim of this English-language workshop is to support PhD students on their academic journey and provide them with guidance at an early stage. They learn to systematically assess the current state of knowledge on their topic, clearly justify their research question and select appropriate research methods. Equally important is the question of how a doctoral qualification can be planned effectively and developed step by step. “Unlock collaborations, exchange insights, and meet the minds shaping your field. Your chance to learn, connect, and elevate your work”, says participant Lina Döring M.Sc., a PhD student at the Centre for Applied Data Science (CfADS) and Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (HSBI), summarising her experiences. At the same time, however, PhD students are to be familiarised with fundamental methods for identifying their research gap – for example, through systematic literature reviews – and with the general requirements of international events involving many participants (presentations, discussions, etc.). The workshop therefore serves in particular to prepare PhD students
- for academic exchange,
- to ensure the continuity of their work,
- to facilitate networking amongst participants and
- to integrating the perspectives of logistics professionals from other specialist fields and countries.
The programme strengthens subject-specific, methodological and personal skills in equal measure. Participants write a specialist paper in English according to set guidelines, incorporate feedback from a peer-review process and present their research in English. They learn to engage in academic discussions, answer questions, critically reflect on the progress of their own work and take on board new ideas for their future research.
In addition, personal interaction plays a central role. A joint networking evening, discussions following the presentations and conversations during the breaks create opportunities for people to meet. This fosters connections between PhD candidates, supervisors and researchers from different countries and disciplines. These encounters often lead to joint projects or research visits.
„The IDWL workshop is not intended to facilitate networking among doctoral students; rather, its goal is to foster an active exchange between doctoral students, faculty, and researchers in order to gain new insights and approaches that can be incorporated into future work.“
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fabian Behrendt, Deputy Director of the
Doctoral Center for Social, Health, and Economic Sciences
The research projects presented address current challenges in business and society. Among other topics, they focus on the use of artificial intelligence in small and medium-sized enterprises, resilient supply chains, the dissemination of knowledge, and the improvement of material flows. Many doctoral projects are carried out in collaboration with industry partners from the participating countries and combine scientific research with practical applications.
About 30 former participants and staff members are now professors
For Prof. h.c. Dr.-Ing. Elke Glistau of IEPS, this is where the workshop’s particular strength lies: “This workshop significantly enhances the quality of all doctoral dissertations through collaborative, scholarly, international work. We have succeeded in passing on the concept and the proven working methods to the next generation of professors, thereby ensuring that this long-standing success will continue into the future. The research topics require an interdisciplinary and international approach.” Approximately 30 former participants and advisors from the workshop are now professors at universities in nine countries.
The results of the workshop remain visible beyond the event itself. The doctoral candidates’ contributions are published as open-access proceedings and are also made available via ResearchGate.
For 19 years, the international doctoral workshop has been an integral part of supporting early-career researchers at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Demand continues to grow, which is why the format will be continued in the future. Attention is already turning to the 20th workshop.
TEXT: Ines Perl