Ulrich Oberhofer

IAI

From September 25–28, 2020, the first IAI doctoral candidates' retreat took place. After a small group had taken on the planning for the retreat, almost 30 doctoral candidates from the IAI traveled together to a self-catering house in Lermoos in Austria, where the aim was to strengthen professional exchange and cohesion among the doctoral candidates over the three days.

A central component of the retreat was a one-day workshop on the topic of “leadership training”. Not only were aspects of good and purposeful leadership behavior presented, but important criteria for self-management and organization were also discussed. Other key points of the retreat were the discussion of questions about doctoral studies and reports from the ILA. Here, in small groups, various aspects, criteria, and challenges of doctoral studies and, in particular, the situation at the IAI and KIT were discussed and experiences were exchanged.

In order to explore the mountainous region around the accommodation, several parallel hikes in small groups took place for half a day, during which the mutual exchange of ideas about the respective research work and the discussion of possible cooperation projects within the framework of the doctorate was a central aspect.

The self-catering house chosen as accommodation offered the opportunity for all doctoral students to cook together, organize the shopping and coordinate the meals. Everyone helped diligently here, and group cohesion as a central aspect of the retreat also came into play.

After the official part of the retreat was over on Saturday, September 28, and some of the doctoral students returned to Karlsruhe, 15 doctoral students stayed until Sunday, using the time for hikes near Lermoos and a visit to the swimming pool, as well as for a last dinner together and a games evening.

In summary, the retreat was very successful, the organization in the self-catering accommodation went smoothly, and all participants showed great interest in the exchange and in the opportunity to look beyond their own doctoral topic.