Speaker and Steering Committee

The ViDSS is governed by a speaker and a steering committee comprising representatives of all research fields present at the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as two student representatives.

The Steering Committee members serve as contact persons between the Doctoral School, the Faculty’s departments and the Student Representatives in Social Sciences. The Steering Committee meets twice per semester and takes decisions on the profile and organisational development of the Doctoral School. The members discuss activities for doctoral candidates and supervisors, make spending decisions, select visiting scholars and advise the Speaker on the teaching programme and the milestones of the doctoral programme.

As Director of Studies of the doctoral programme in Social Sciences, the speaker of the ViDSS is appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences every two years. The Speaker represents his/her department in the Steering Committee and appoints the other SC members on the basis of the suggestions submitted by the Faculty’s departments and the Student Representatives in the Social Sciences.

Three members of the Steering Committee from the group of supervisors are nominated as deputy speakers of the ViDSS and deputy directors of studies. One member of the committee is nominated as ombudsperson, one as coordinator of mobility programmes and one as advisor on research ethics. The members of the Steering Committee are supported by the Coordinator of the ViDSS.