Ljubljana, September 11 – As part of a scientific conference on mentoring relationships and knowledge transfer, a discussion was held on the quality and challenges of doctoral studies in Slovenia. At the center of the debate on successful mentorships were the circumstances of doctoral students and their mentors, which are significantly shaped by factors at the micro or (inter)personal level, at the meso level within the research group and study organization, and at the macro societal level.
Relationships between mentors and doctoral students that are more equal can contribute to the successful completion of doctoral studies. As Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luka Kronegger stated: “It is essentially about trust, in which a space is created for in-depth discussions and the development of new ideas.” He also highlighted the important role of non-institutional spaces or less formal contexts: “for conversations, meetings, and the spontaneous tackling of both personal and research challenges that we face as mentors or students.”
At the University of Ljubljana (UL), about 600 candidates enroll in doctoral studies each year, while just over 300 successfully complete them. On average, it takes them seven years to finish. Head of the UL Doctoral School, Prof. Dr. Tatjana Marvin Derganc, says that compared to other elements of doctoral studies monitored through surveys, doctoral candidates are most satisfied with mentoring: “So the reasons for the relatively long duration of doctoral studies or their non-completion must also be sought beyond mentoring.”
Findings from the research project Mentorship in the Context of Scientific Collaboration and Knowledge Production, conducted at the Centre for Methodology and Informatics at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FDV) UL, show that psychological flexibility—i.e., the ability to cope with changes and to successfully deal with stress, failure, and obstacles at work—significantly contributes to satisfaction with mentoring relationships and doctoral study programs.
President of the doctoral student association Mlada akademija and young researcher Neja Bizjak Štrus also points out broader social factors that especially burden young people and may contribute to their distress: “The hardships of young people are also linked to the situation in the world, which is not rosy. In addition, we are at an age when we are solving our housing situation and—as is the case for young researchers with temporary employment—we cannot take out a housing loan.”
Regarding the pressures that doctoral candidates feel during their studies, Prof. Dr. Franc Mali believes they are certainly also a reflection of the highly competitive scientific system, which: “is not necessarily bad, since competition fosters development. However, the system must not be subordinated exclusively to such aggressiveness and point-scoring, but must also cultivate other values.” Thus, a good scientist is not necessarily also a good mentor, but can become one with appropriate support, interest, and opportunities for training, as one of the conclusions of the round table emphasized.
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luka Kronegger
E-mail: luka.kronegger@fdv.uni-lj.si
Assist. Prof. Dr. Sara Atanasova
E-mail: sara.atanasova@fdv.uni-lj.si
Assist. Prof. Dr. Marjan Cugmas
E-mail: marjan.cugmas@fdv.uni-lj.si
The Centre for Methodology and Informatics (CMI) was established in 1992 and combines research in the fields of social science methodology and social informatics. CMI ranks among the global leaders in developing methods and tools for network analysis. Members of the centre collaborate closely with numerous domestic and international institutions and actively apply for and participate in international projects.