The Guild: the European network opening the borders of doctoral research

The Guild, a network at the heart of the European Research Area (ERA)

Founded in 2016, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities brings together 23 research-intensive universities across 17 countries. Based in Brussels, close to the European institutions, the network works to strengthen research and innovation policies at the European Union level. For its members, The Guild provides a forum for exchange that fosters joint initiatives in education and research.

Among the network’s initiatives, the Guild Law Doctoral Workshop is a key annual event: organised each year by the network’s law faculties, this event enables PhD students from member universities to present their research to their peers and to academic staff from across Europe.

Exploring the frontline of European legal issues

This year, the event was hosted by the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Law and focused on safeguarding the rule of law in the face of current geopolitical and societal changes: conflicts, climate crises and economic sanctions.

Over the course of two days, four PhD students from UPCité presented their research, offering complementary perspectives: Charles Paliard is working on constitutional justice reforms in Hungary and Poland; Lefa Mondon on the effectiveness of restrictive measures in international arbitration; Anastasia Azar on the creation of women’s rights by women; Robin Gonalons on the criminal and financial liability regimes applicable to public managers in the health sector.

These issues, by their very nature, require confronting different national perspectives. For Lefa Mondon, this openness was essential:

“My field is very much focused on the international scene. I needed to find out how others were approaching their subject. It encouraged me to look at my own subject from different angles and discover other ways of working. I needed to step outside my French framework.“

A challenging but rewarding exercise: confronting views and assessing research progress

Presenting one’s thesis in ten minutes, in English, before an international audience is a task that is not merely a linguistic challenge, but above all a requirement for clarity. Each researcher must make their work intelligible to peers who do not necessarily share the same codes or references. As Robin Gonalons explains:

“You must avoid using jargon or being overly nuanced, at the risk of losing your audience. This exercise allows you to gauge your own grasp of the key concepts in your research.”

For Anastasia Azar, this preparation proved to be a real opportunity to take stock of the progress of her research:

“Research involves so many drafts, various open Word documents, and countless tabs. This was the first piece of actual writing I managed to produce — in English, no less — and I sent it to my supervisors. Paradoxically, it makes you realize that you’ve actually made significant progress.”

Whilst doctoral research is often a solitary endeavour, the Guild Law Doctoral Workshop enabled participants to benefit from invaluable external perspectives on the progress of their thesis projects. Engaging with peers from Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, the doctoral candidates also compared their day-to-day experiences during more informal get-togethers organised by the University of Ljubljana. Contract duration, teaching duties, remuneration and recognition, or even the relationship with the thesis supervisor: these are all factors that can vary across European doctoral models, as Charles Paliard points out:

“Social sciences subjects like law involve a lot of solitary work; it’s often hard to know where you stand or how you measure up. It’s always good to have a different perspective from that of your thesis supervisor, particularly an international one. It also gives you the chance to discuss practical matters with other PhD students, rather than just very abstract or conceptual issues – for example, finding out how PhD students are paid in Italy or Spain.” 

Scientific exchanges with tangible outcomes

Far from being merely a conference, this exchange programme has opened up very real opportunities for PhD students, particularly by facilitating their connections with leading European experts.

For Charles Paliard, the decisive encounter was with a Polish professor who specialised in his field of research:

“There was a Polish professor with whom I’ve stayed in touch. We will certainly write to each other again, so that I can perhaps go to Poland to meet constitutional judges there directly.”

Lefa Mondon also had the opportunity to meet a leading expert:

“There was a professor based in Slovenia, a specialist in my field, who drafts reports on economic sanctions for the European Union. She was on the panel. She advised me on which academic and institutional networks to join at EU level.”

For Anastasia Azar, it was a discussion with Italian colleagues that revealed historical parallels relevant to her research topic:

“They told me about certain Italian journals that traced the history of women’s rights in Italy, and I thought, why not try to take a comparative approach? ”

These connections illustrate what all the participants identified as one of the most valuable outcomes of the workshop: the creation of a European academic network.

The expansion of doctoral mobility within European networks

Despite some colleagues’ initial surprise at this mobility scheme, the feedback has been unanimous: European mobility serves as a stimulating academic and personal experience during doctoral studies, accessible to everyone, regardless of their research topic or prior international experience.

“Before I left, when I told my colleagues I was going to Slovenia for a conference, they all asked me: ‘But what on earth are you going to do in Slovenia?’ It’s interesting to see that academic networks exist even within European institutions and that our university is part of them. I wasn’t aware of this before my mobility placement,” says Charles Paliard. A reaction that reflects not so much a lack of interest as a still widespread lack of awareness of the opportunities available to PhD students.

“Human relationships are just as important as academic development. It’s an enriching experience, both professionally and personally; I recommend it 100 per cent,” says Anastasia Azar

The Guild thus provides a concrete platform for UPCité PhD students: to engage with European experts, to subject their work to an international perspective, and to build a sustainable academic network. Being a member of this network enables Université Paris Cité to contribute to the development of the European Research Area (ERA).

International Relations Department: 

→ internationalisation.iro@u-paris.fr