The third semester Research Track (25 ECTS) in Kraków is an opportunity for students from the consortium to immerse themselves in the world of academia and in their chosen field of study through group workshops and individual research.
The Research Track offer at the Jagiellonian University:
The research track is divided into two parts. The first is a 15h by-weekly seminar with Prof. Przemysław Tacik entitled “Theoretical Musings” wherein students and teacher jointly choose theories or concepts of interest to their research and read and deeply discuss texts related to the topic. The setting is a seminar-style academic discussion with the aim of reading and reflecting in-depth on a theoretical level.
The second is a 15h by-weekly workshop with Dr Karolina Czerska-Shaw entitled “Connecting Academic, Research and Civil Communities: (What Academia does not tell you about Academia, research and the outside world)”. This part of the research track accompanies students on their research projects, including workshops on findings one’s academic community, doing a literature review, working with diverse methodological tools, academic publishing, ethics, AI and information integrity and finally, preparing a research output.
The tutorials and workshops are designed for MA in Euroculture students wishing to develop (or get a taste of) a career in the research field and to improve their research skills and academic self-confidence. What is unique about the research track in Kraków is that students are able to tailor their research outputs according to their research topic and the skills they want to develop. Those focusing on preparing a PhD application may want to focus on writing an article with the aim of publishing it; those who are in the sphere of culture may want to develop a research-based exhibition or event; others may want to focus on turning their research into a policy report. The tutors work with students to help them tailor their output that fits their research profile.
The last phase of research is a public presentation of the findings, which is organised in different formats: from an evening event at a local bookshop/café, to an exhibition vernissage, or an event hosted outside of the university. The aim is to engage in ‘public-facing academia’ which goes beyond the walls of the university. Research track students organise this event with the support of the tutors.
The student is also expected to take (minimum) one MA-level course that ties in to their research topic.
Research Track Assessment:
1. Mapping the research community & future academic publication possibilities (10% of grade)
- The student is asked to provide one or two PhD possibilities, as well as a shortlist (1-2 positions) of journals where they could publish their research paper, justifying why it would be a good fit (think of this as a cover letter that you would need to write anyway to a journal).
-
mapping out the research community in which they want to position themselves – as well as societal outreach area.
2. Academic portfolio - a portfolio containing a ‘pitch’ for the project, academic branding exercise (10% of grade)
- The student is asked to work on a short project pitch (which they will present to the group), including bio & CV and short blurb about what kind of ‘academic branding’ they would need to work on and why.
3. Responsio - public presentation of the research (20% of grade)
4. Final research output (in the format of an academic article or other output, such as a policy report, exhibition, microsite (60% of grade)