Pooled Training

The GEM PhD School's programme pioneered and integrated an approach to doctoral teaching that would be conitnued and deepend within the GEM-STONES network. The full program contained a series of educational modules, which the students could use to compile the necessary 180 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System academic credits) for graduation. Enrolled students had up to four years to complete their training and doctoral dissertation.

A Coherent Teaching Structure

The GEM PhD School recognised the following educational modules which PhD students could use to compile the necessary 180 ECTS for graduation:

• Methodological Courses: 1st year obligatory methodology course; End of year one dissertation
• Research Specific Courses & Seminars: Research & teaching activities; Elective graduate course
• Annual Joint Activity: GR:EEN-GEM summer school; Annual GEM conference; Student-led joint activties
• Doctoral Dissertation: Up to 4 years till completion and submission; Joint tutorship from 2 institutions

Mandatory training included: First-Year Methodological Courses; Annual Review Process; Annual GEM Conference; Doctoral Dissertation
Elective training included: First-Year electives particularly relevant to the PhD project; Set of 2nd and 3rd year specializing courses, seminars, research or teaching activities; Possible 4th year hosted by the primary institution and entirely dedicated to the writing of the final dissertation; Annual GR:EEN-GEM Summer School.

Local Provisions included the various national doctoral training programmes existing within the member institutions. As such, GEM PhD students had access to:

• At the ULB – Ecole Doctorale Thématique en Science Politique et Relations Internationales; Thematic Doctoral School in EU Studies
• At the University of Warwick – PaIS Research Methodologies Seminar
• At the LUISS Guido Carli di Roma – Political Theory & Governance Research Seminar
• At the Université de Genève – Graduate Classes hosted by the European Institute
• At the Universität Bielefeld – Joint Activities

Joint activities organized at the level of the GEM PhD School as a whole included:

• An annual GEM Conference and Scientific Workshop hosted by one of the member institutions and gathering all affiliated doctoral researchers
• Annual Summer Schools on specific topics linking the GEM PhD School to the wider research community. These included amongst other the GARNET and GR:EEN summer Schools
• Student-led projects