Regulations & Concept of the Doctoral College

Inequality and difference are social facts in all societies, but they shape coexistence to varying degrees. Inequality and difference are the result of social negotiation processes in which access to and rights of disposal over material and immaterial resources are distributed. Vertical and horizontal disparities are intertwined: Vertical inequality encompasses economic differences in income and wealth and varying access to the means of production, the labor market, capital, credit, and welfare state services (e.g., education and health). Difference, as a horizontal disparity, includes the different possibilities for social belonging and social participation that arise from nationality, gender, religion, age, or language. Both forms, however, overlap, reinforce (and weaken) each other intersectionally along the axes of global exclusion and inclusion mechanisms such as racism, linguistics, gender, and class relations, which are reflected in corresponding regional processes.

Migration and mobility represent essential contexts for socially produced and reproduced inequality and difference. They influence both the social and economic development of nation-states and people's everyday experiences. Border and migration regimes shape transitions and reception conditions and are the starting point of social plurality. In the age of globalization, such plurality is not per se an exceptional state, but also a post-migrant normality. Migration thus becomes an important perspective on social change in both global and regional contexts.

Innsbruck offers a particularly suitable location for critically examining relationships of inequality and difference with a focus on migration and mobility because it is located on the threshold of a European North-South divide, i.e., at the intersection of diverse discursive logics, imperatives for justification, and cultural traditions. In this sense, the Brenner Pass, central to Europe's self-image, symbolizes both the danger of destructive border maneuvers and the opportunity for creative passages. In this tense context, the University of Innsbruck can make an important contribution to conceptually conveying current transitions.

Inequality and difference is a broad phenomenon and will be examined in a multi- and interdisciplinary manner within the DK. A variety of disciplines from five faculties of the University of Innsbruck are involved: Education, European Ethnology, Geography, History, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Law, and Linguistics. Furthermore, there are numerous connections to other disciplines. The MCI (Social Work, Social Policy & Management) is also involved. Coherence is achieved both methodologically, for example, through comparative approaches in contemporary studies and historical analyses, and through regular collaboration between faculty and fellows in various formats.

The DK is closely linked to the research focus "Cultural Encounters – Cultural Conflicts" and the research centers "Migration & Globalization" and "Cultures in Contact." Its goal is to provide doctoral students with optimal conditions while working on their dissertations, ensure interdisciplinary exchange, and promote international networking. Furthermore, the DK aims to strengthen collaboration among local researchers and raise awareness of the specific expertise available at the Innsbruck location.

The DK consists of the following committees:

General meeting (jour fixe) consisting of faculty members and doctoral students (meets at least once per semester)
Responsibilities: Changes in the objectives of the DK; monitoring the efficient and proper implementation of the DK's activities; organization of scientific lectures and activities (e.g., exams, workshops); termination of the DK

Faculty consisting of the researchers participating in the Doctoral Committee (internal and associated) and the doctoral student representatives (meets at least once a year).
Responsibilities: Amendments to the Doctoral Committee statutes and the Doctoral Committee curriculum; admission of new doctoral students; admission of new faculty members; appointment and convening of the scientific advisory board; allocation of financial resources; exclusion of faculty members or doctoral students

Spokesperson and deputy (elected from among the faculty members for a term of 3 years each; re-election is permitted)
Responsibilities: Representation of the DK externally; organization of the semester schedule; planning of activities; convening of meetings; administration of financial resources

Doctoral Students' Meeting (meets at least once a year)
Responsibilities: Proposals for semester schedule and activities; feedback to the faculty

Spokesperson for doctoral students and deputy (elected from among the doctoral students for one year; re-election is permitted)
Responsibilities: Representation of doctoral students, proposals to the faculty, participation in the faculty's meetings and decisions

International scientific advisory board consisting of at least three external experts
Responsibilities: Advising the faculty on external reviewers; advising the faculty on the further development of objectives, profile building, and scientific networks

Associate members : Postdocs with relevant qualifications from within the university and external lecturers with relevant qualifications can be admitted to the DK as associate members; they do not have the right to vote in the selection of new doctoral students or new faculty members

All decisions in the aforementioned bodies are made by majority vote, either at a meeting with the presence or participation of persons representing at least two-thirds of the members' votes, or by circular resolution. Each member of a body has the right to appoint another natural person as a representative for meetings, so that this person can attend a meeting on their behalf and exercise their voting rights. One person may represent a maximum of two votes at a meeting.

Admission of faculty members to the DK: Researchers can submit an informal application to the spokesperson for admission to the DK faculty at any time; the faculty decides on applications by majority vote; necessary prerequisites: personal presentation, professional relevance, and the involvement of at least one doctoral student

Faculty members may leave the DK: at their own request, after notifying the spokesperson as soon as possible; by leaving the university, in which case the faculty may grant the status of associate member by majority vote; due to a lack of supervision of DK doctoral candidates over a period of five years; the supervision of DK doctoral candidates of the departing member must be taken over by other faculty members if the DK doctoral candidates wish to remain in the DK; in any case, it must be ensured that, in the case of associated members, DK doctoral candidates are supervised by at least one other faculty member.

Exclusion of Faculty Members or Doctoral Candidates: The Faculty may expel a member of the Faculty or doctoral candidates within 30 days of their notice if they: - repeatedly or seriously violate the provisions of these Statutes or - fail to fulfill their obligations despite a warning and a reasonable grace period.

Doctoral students can take a leave of absence for a period of up to two years after giving reasons.

• Written application to the spokesperson of the DK with a letter of motivation, CV, project outline of approximately 8-10 pages in relation to the thematic focus of the DK and letters of recommendation
• Application deadlines are December 1 and June 1 each year
• Personal presentation (brief CV and dissertation project) to the faculty and doctoral students
• Selection by faculty members (majority decision)
• Primary supervision by at least one authorized faculty member; exceptions require justification and a majority decision by the faculty
• Criteria: Quality and potential of the dissertation project, excellence (MA/diploma thesis, etc.), internationality (international experience, etc.), networking/visibility (conference participation, publications, etc.)

• Supervision of doctoral students in interdisciplinary teams wherever possible
• If possible, attendance at DK events
• Two assessments of the respective dissertation with at least one external reviewer
• Doctoral students must enroll as regular students after admission to the DK and register for continuation

• Presentation of a detailed concept of the dissertation project six months after admission to the DK (e.g. during a joint exam or jour fixe)
• Regular reporting on the progress of the dissertation to the relevant faculty members
• At least two presentations on the status of the dissertation project within the framework of the DK with feedback from all fellows
• if possible, participation in (teaching) events of the DK
• Attendance of further (elective) events within the framework of the DK curriculum after consultation with the main supervising faculty member
• Participation in international meetings and conferences, publications, stays abroad depending on financial means

Year 1

Dissertation concept: The concept will be read and reviewed by a team of supervising faculty members, preferably an interdisciplinary team; presentation and defense (5 ECTS)

Scientific foundations / core competencies : Discussion of key texts and testing of their application to different disciplinary contexts, if possible in interdisciplinary co-teaching (2 faculty members) (5 ECTS).

Year 2

Doctoral Seminar: In an interdisciplinary co-teaching session (two faculty members), theoretical and methodological approaches (development of a research question, methodology, research goals, and timeline) for the dissertation will be discussed. (5 ECTS credits)

Generic competencies: open/elective; aligned with the topic of the DK and the student's own work (5 ECTS).

Year 3

Active participation in scientific discourse : Doctoral students present their own research results in guest lectures, conferences, progress reports, workshops, competitions or journal or edited volume articles under the supervision of the supervising faculty members (5 ECTS).

Defensio / Rigorosum (5 ECTS)

In addition to the courses, a closed conference with presentations by doctoral students to all participating faculty members and, if applicable, visiting researchers, as well as events such as guest lectures, is planned once a year.