The Idea behind the smartNETWORK

The smartNETWORK is the learning network of the humanities' and social sciences' graduate schools. It has grown continually since it was founded and now includes eight graduate schools and third-party funded colleges. As a learning network, its main task is to actively promote the structured doctorate and to regularly improve it. To this end, common standards have been developed and established. These include basics such as doctoral agreements and corresponding curricula, etc., as well as the active promotion of an attractive research environment. In the past, the network has established itself as a focal point for interdisciplinary exchange and implemented the internationalization of doctoral training as an integral part of its members' curriculum. This is achieved through a continual exchange between the graduate schools.

Excellent structure

Since 2010, external funding has been regularly secured to build the network into a shared hub. For instance, the first DAAD IPID project was acquired for the 2011–2014 period, followed immediately by a second one - IPID4all - which ran from 2015 to 2019. An Erasmus programme with the University of California, Berkeley, has been underway since 2020. During this period, the participating graduate schools secured funding for five research training groups and various scholarship programs. This extensive external funding activity not only demonstrates the appeal of the established structures but also provides a promising foundation for building upon these successes. In this way, the network is set to consistently evolve into a structure of excellence.

smartNETWORK at the University of Münster 

Network coordination is the crucial interface between the central institutions and the participating disciplines. Together with the Centre for Emerging Researchers (CERes), a three-level model has been developed to structure this collaborative division of labor and to align the respective areas of expertise. The network is currently working together with the Career Service to develop discipline-specific programmes for career paths outside academia. Collaboration with the Equal Opportunity Office of the university has previously enabled the realization of various projects for the smartNETWORK, most notably, securing an exclusive spot in the "Erstklassig!" mentoring programme. There is also close, well-established cooperation with the International Office regarding the expansion and maintenance of international networks, such as joint doctoral supervision arrangements (*cotutelle*).