DP-FOBI provides a flexible doctoral training structure that combines disciplinary expertise, interdisciplinary learning, and intersectoral engagement. The programme equips doctoral candidates with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed for impactful research and diverse careers.
Doctoral candidates build advanced expertise through discipline-specific studies tailored to their research objectives and career goals. Individual study plans are prepared with the primary supervisor and aligned with each candidate’s career development plan.
All candidates are integrated into the DP-FOBI partner ecosystem, collaborating with academic, industry, and public-sector stakeholders. Regular DP-FOBI workshops and summer schools support networking, knowledge exchange, and research presentation skills. Candidates also participate in international scientific conferences to present their work and expand their professional networks.
A mandatory core training programme is complemented by optional UEF courses in areas such as research ethics, open science, research writing, communication, project management, leadership, career planning, and entrepreneurship. Open Science is a key theme, supporting transparent, accessible, and impactful research.
DP-FOBI also emphasises public engagement and science communication. Doctoral candidates interact with citizens, media, policymakers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the societal relevance of their research.
Interdisciplinary and intersectoral learning is supported through collaboration with supervisors, mentors, and partners; stakeholder-driven research; secondments; joint training events; and access to national and European doctoral training networks.
DP-FOBI doctoral studies follow the structure and study modules of the UEF Doctoral Programme to which each doctoral candidate belongs.
The doctoral degree primarily focuses on research and engagement with the academic community. In addition to the doctoral dissertation, the degree includes 30 ECTS of doctoral studies that support the candidate’s research:
Transferable skills studies (5–10 ECTS), including courses in research ethics, scientific writing, and academic and other professional skills.
Studies in the discipline and field of research (20–25 ECTS), including methodological studies, seminars, and other discipline-specific studies.
DP-FOBI includes the following mandatory customised training activities:
DP-FOBI workshops are organised biannually. They provide a dynamic platform for doctoral candidates to present their research, receive expert feedback, and engage in peer learning.
Summer School: Methods of Interdisciplinary and Intersectoral Collaboration (1 ECTS) establishes a strong methodological foundation for interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration among the doctoral candidates and relevant partners.
Summer School: Forest-Based Bioeconomy Hackathon (1 ECTS) immerses doctoral candidates in real-world problem-solving within the forest-based bioeconomy sector.
Summer School: Social Lab with Stakeholders (1 ECTS) equips doctoral candidates with skills to collaborate with multiple stakeholders and translate their research into impactful, future-oriented solutions.
Workshop: Intellectual Property Rights and Commercialisation develops entrepreneurial competencies and a strategic understanding of intellectual property rights, commercialisation, and research valorisation.
Doctoral candidates are encouraged to complete secondments (that last at least three months), short research visits, and collaborative projects with universities, research institutes, companies, and other organisations within the programme’s partner network.
These experiences support knowledge exchange, hands-on learning, and adaptation to different research and work cultures. They also strengthen teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation skills.
By working with academic and non-academic partners across sectors and countries, doctoral candidates gain a broader perspective on research and career opportunities. This mobility also helps ensure that doctoral research is informed by real-world needs and contributes to the scientific quality and societal relevance of forest-based bioeconomy research.
