Preparation for the doctoral defense

Time:	October 10, 2025 – November 27, 2025
	October 10, 2025, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. October 17, 2025, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. November 24, 2025, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. November 27, 2025, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lecturer:	Prof. Luisa Sabine Heß (Experience in third-party funding acquisition in the field of telemedicine at RWTH Aachen, project management in the research project "Smart Innovation in Mechanical and Plant Engineering," as well as the design of an interdisciplinary seminar program. From 2010 to 2011, led a European consulting project for qualification needs analysis at a research institute. Currently a professor of management and human resources at Cologne Business School, with teaching responsibilities at FernUniversität Hagen and Hochschule Köln).
Event language:	English
This continuing education course is aimed at :	Doctoral researchers
CreditPoints:	1 credit point
Meeting mode:	online
Venue:	University of Stuttgart The participants will receive the access-link and all necessary infomation one day before the seminar.
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Preparation for the the presentation of your thesis and the discussions with the board of examiners afterwards.

Before achieving the doctoral certificate most of the candidates have to master the defense of their thesis. Most of the candidates haven´t faced exam-situations since their master defense. Now candidates might feel uncomfortable although they know their own research best. The workshop will prepare you for the presentation of your thesis and the discussions with the board of examiners afterwards. You will have the chance to practice and analyze the presentation of your own scientific work.

You will also collect potential questions for the discussion after your presentation and practice how to answer convincing and self-confident. Your success will be linked to your own preparation. Therefor the concrete planning of the doctoral defense will also be part of this workshop.

Learning results:

• Presentation in exam situations: structure and composition of the presentation, design and amount of content, dramaturgy, handling of excitement and blackout
• Exam situation: process and design, handling of questions, answering-strategies, types of argumentations, how to handle lack of knowledge
• Exam preparation: time management, dealing with stress, organizational details around the exam

Requirements for participation: Please bring a excerpt from a specialist lecture, ideally about your dissertation, if available. A conference paper would also be suitable. The purpose is to practice the dissertation defense presentation. A 10-minute presentation is sufficient. You can present either in German or in English, then we will choose the presentation groups so that there will be German and English groups. 

Registration