International Environmental Doctoral School associated with the Centre for Polar Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice (IEDS)

Area of knowledge, field of science and academic discipline, or field of the arts and artistic discipline:

  • The field of Natural Sciences
    • Academic disciplines: Mathematics, Earth and related environmental sciences
  • The field of Engineering and technology
    • Academic disciplines: Materials engineering

Relationship between the educational programme and the mission of the academic institution, its developmental strategy and the developmental strategy of the faculty

The aim of the International Environmental Doctoral School associated with the Centre for Polar Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice (IEDS) is to provide a new generation of scientists with new opportunities for high-quality contributions to scientific research by offering them theoretical and practical (methodological) training, designed to stimulate their intellectual growth and boost their academic status. These aims are in line with the general strategy of the University of Silesia in Katowice and the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The University of Silesia in Katowice and the Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences aim to achieve the highest standards of education and scientific research, assessed with the use of parameterised assessment methods. The International Environmental Doctoral School is likely to significantly help the cause through educating young academic staff and conducting research in collaboration with renowned academic centres from abroad. Useful in working towards the goal will also be the experience gained as a result of the previous activity of the Centre for Polar Studies and Interdisciplinary Polar Studies KNOW.

The International Environmental Doctoral School (IEDS) will involve cooperation with foreign academic centres, whose academic staff will work as supervisors or auxiliary supervisors and lecturers at IEDS, and which will accept IEDS doctoral students for internship programmes. Such cooperation will make it possible to ensure very high standards of education, which is a priority for the University of Silesia in Katowice and for the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Fundamental educational aims, including qualifications gained by doctoral students

The fundamental educational aim is to equip the students with a set of skills necessary to identify new, innovative and applicable research problems, and to conduct research according to the highest, international level, with the use of state-of-the-art analytical methods and techniques. Studies at the Doctoral School will enable the students to gain up-to-date, specialist knowledge in the field of exact and natural sciences as well as engineering and technology, and to develop interdisciplinary understanding of the ways in which the environment operates in the context of global climate changes. The School will enable wider dissemination of knowledge and study results within the academia and the society at large.