EUPRERA PhD Seminar

Sinaia, the mountain town where the 2024 PhD seminar will take place, is situated in the Prahova Valley (seen here), in the Romanian Carpathian mountains.

The aim of the EUPRERA PhD seminar, taking place every year soon before the EUPRERA annual congress, is to provide an international setting where doctoral students within public relations and strategic communication can present their ongoing work, get feedback from experts and peers and establish a valuable network for the future.

Was really helpful and I’ve also got some clear idea for my future works.

A chance to get input from someone with different perspectives and ideas on how to continue my work.

Participating in the EUPRERA PhD seminar was a great opportunity for me to discuss my own dissertation project with PhD students and senior scholars in a very constructive atmosphere.

Expect to meet PhD students from across Europe and beyond, train your presentation and feedback skills in an intercultural setting, and think out-of-the-box.

Helpful feedback from experts and peers, very much time for every paper.

You’ll also receive first-hand advice on publication strategies and how to pursue an academic career.

Next PhD Seminar

The 17th EUPRERA PhD seminar will be held in Sinaia on September 8-11, 2024
(arrival on September 8), before the EUPRERA annual congress in Bucharest, Romania.

The seminar is intended for early/mid-stage PhD students in public relations, organizational communication, and/or strategic communication. It provides an international setting for the next generation of scholars. During three days, participants will get the chance to network and discuss their work in depth and get feedback from experts and peers. Active participation is expected meaning that everyone prepares comments on papers that are distributed in advance. In addition, two designated respondents will be appointed per paper and provide written feedback ahead of the seminar dates. The seminar will also include presentations and discussions around topics such as the process of writing a PhD, developing an academic career, and the relationship between PhD student and advisor.

There will be a limited number of 10 participants. The submissions will go through a selection process. Deadline for applications: June 12.

Application requirements and process

• A one-page abstract presenting the dissertation (must explicitly address public relations, organizational communication, and/or strategic communication) and proof of enrolment in a PhD programme to be sent to Øyvind Ihlen (oyvind.ihlen@media.uio.no) by June 12.

The abstracts will go through a review process focusing on quality and potential before a decision regarding acceptance is made. If accepted, participants are expected to confirm their attendance and submit the following:

• 10-page paper based on the PhD project. The paper should follow the standard structure of introduction of the topic of interest, research question, literature review of the theory that is or will be applied, description and discussion of the methodological approach, analysis/discussion, and (tentative) conclusion. If the dissertation is article-based, it is possible to pull out one of the articles and present this alongside an introduction note detailing the context of the piece. You should also pose three questions concerning the type of feedback you are looking for.
• One page of comments for each of the two papers (will be allocated after August), addressing the quality of the research questions, theory, method and/or analysis, to be distributed to the participant. Deadline: to be defined, it will be a few days before the seminar.
  

Acceptance criteria

The seminar is suited for early/mid-stage PhD students in public relations, organizational communication, and/or strategic communication.

1. Academic and Research Background

• Proof of enrolment in a PhD program or recommendation from a PhD supervisor
• Submission of a research paper relevant to strategic communication/public relations

2. Research Paper Evaluation

• Originality and Contribution: New ideas, methods, relevance, and addressing a gap in research.
• Theoretical Framework: Depth of understanding, integration of literature, and critical analysis.
• Methodology: Suitability, clarity, and ethical considerations.
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Rigor, coherence, and insightfulness.
• Structure and Organization: Clarity, logical flow, and consistency.
• Impact and Implications: Practical relevance, suggestions for future research, and generalizability.
• Writing Quality: Grammar, syntax, formatting, and clarity of expression.

3. Commitment to Participation

• Willingness to participate in all seminar activities.

4. Diversity and Inclusion

• Diverse academic backgrounds and geographical representation.

5. Previous attendance

• There are 10 seats available. A maximum of 1 of these might be granted to a student who has participated previously. In case of fewer than 10 applicants, this number can increase.

The organisers of the PhD-seminar will convene after the submission deadline to make a decision based on the above criteria.

Programme and presentations

A detailed program will be distributed in early September.

An important role of the PhD seminar is the opportunity to network with peers. It is important to allocate the working hours as well as the time for socializing with the seminar group. Therefore, you should not plan private tourist activities during the seminar days.

It is highly recommended that PhD students attend the congress as well as the seminar. You can take advantage of the special package fee including both events (registration instructions will be sent after the abstract approval). During the congress, a panel session will be set aside for the students to present.

Registration

To register for the PhD seminar, first you need to submit your application and then, if approved, you will get the seminar registration code.

Registration fees:

Seminar only – 420 EUR
The fee includes the seminar materials, accommodation and full board from Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon, transfer from Bucharest to Sinaia and back.
Seminar and Congress – 530 EUR
The fee includes the seminar materials, accommodation, and full board from Sunday evening to Wednesday afternoon, transfer from Bucharest to Sinaia and back, and congress registration fee. Accommodation during the congress days has to be organised and paid for by the participant. Congress info: www.euprera.org/congress2024.

More info

Please contact the convenors (see above).