Weave Unisono Integrating Deliberation for Impact (i4i) - prof. Paulina Pospieszna

Discipline: Political science and public administration

Weave Unisono project Integrating Deliberation for Impact (i4i) - prof. UAM dr hab. Paulina Pospieszna

The scholarship holder will carry out research tasks as part of the international NCN Weave Unisono project Integrating Deliberation for Impact (i4i). The project focuses on analyzing the impact of citizens' assemblies on public policy, democratic institutions, and political debate across Europe. Within an international research consortium involving teams from Poland, Germany, and Belgium, we investigate how deliberative processes are integrated into political systems and which conditions enhance their actual impact.

The Polish part of the project includes in-depth qualitative research (interviews, document analysis) to understand the mechanisms through which citizens’ recommendations are implemented in local government practice. Key responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and conducting in-depth interviews and/or focus groups with participants, organizers, and decision-makers in selected case studies in Poland, including email correspondence with participants;

• Conducting desk research – analyzing existing materials and data (e.g., reports, policy documents, academic literature, legal acts, and media publications) related to citizens’ assemblies and their impact on decision-making processes;

• Preparing interview transcripts and coding qualitative data using NVivo or other qualitative analysis software;

• Collaborating with the research team on designing research tools (interview invitations, focus group guides, questionnaires, research plans);

• Analyzing qualitative data and contributing to scientific publications and project reports;

• Supporting coordination of data collection in Belgium and Germany;

• Close cooperation with the postdoctoral researcher and the international i4i research team.

Selection Committee     

                                 Chairman:              prof. UAM dr hab. Paulina Pospieszna

                                 Deputy chairman:   prof. dr hab. Joanna Rak

                                                                   prof. UAM dr hab. Jarosław Janczak

                                  Secretary:            mgr Eliza Nowicka 

Recruitment:

    Schedule of  the Doctoral  School enrolment procedure: 

Recruitment fee

The recruitment fee is 75 EUR.

Form of the selection procedure

One stage procedure.

Language of the selection procedure, including interviews:

Polish or English language. 

Required documents:

Candidates applying based on exceptional academic achievements must include a scan of the following:  

1) For first-cycle graduates: the diploma and supplement. 

2) For students completing the third year of a unified master’s programme: a certificate indicating their academic average from years 1 to 3, along with a transcript. 

Candidates educated outside Poland must additionally submit: 

1) A scanned copy of their higher education diploma and supplement for both first- and second-degree qualifications (Bachelor’s and Master’s), in the original language and a certified translation into English or Polish.

2) A scanned copy of their passport (for foreign applicants). 

 Evaluation criteria

 1. A minimum grade of "very good" or equivalent from a second-cycle (master’s) or unified master’s degree diploma (5 points). Candidates applying on the basis of exceptional scientific achievements (e.g., grant awarded under the “Pearls of Science” competition) will also receive 5 points. 

2. Evaluation of up to three documented scientific achievements submitted during registration in the IRK system, assessed according to the detailed criteria of the candidate's accomplishments (maximum of 20 points). 

3. Assessment of other documented activities, based on up to three achievements indicated by the candidate, as per the specific criteria for the discipline (maximum of 5 points). 

4. The outcome of the interview, which assesses: 

a) The candidate’s knowledge and competencies relevant to their intended research, including discipline-specific expertise. 

b) Research methodology appropriate to the chosen discipline. The interview has a maximum duration of 30 minutes and awards up to 50 points. 

5. Evaluation of the research project prepared for admission, or in the case of recruitment tied to a grant project, the author’s concept for implementing the project (maximum of 20 points). Assessment focuses on: 

a) Formulation of the research objective and presentation of the research problem. Page 6 of 9 

b) Originality of the research idea and approach to solving the research problem. 

c) Methodology suited to the indicated discipline. 

d) Awareness of the current state of research, supported by a basic bibliography. 

e) The project’s significance for the development of the chosen discipline. 

Condition of admission to the Doctoral School 

Education Program

Education at the doctoral school lasts 8 semesters. Education at the Doctoral School is offered on the basis of a framework curriculum and an individual research plan and ends with the submission of a doctoral dissertation.

The framework curriculum at the doctoral school includes a catalogue of modules of compulsory classes, elective compulsory classes and optional classes. It also:

1)    defines their schedule

2)    defines the way in which the classes are taught

3)    defines how learning outcomes are verified.

Supervisors

A doctoral student works under the supervision of a supervisor or supervisors, or a supervisor and auxiliary supervisor, who will be appointed by the Deputy Rector at the request of a doctoral student (within 3 months of the start of his or her studies at the Doctoral School).

Scholarships

Doctoral student receives a scholarship in the amount of PLN 4266.57 gross for the first two years of studies (before the mid-term evaluation) and PLN 5340.9 gross  for two years following mid-term evaluation (maximum 4 years). 

The amount should be reduced by 11,26% due to ZUS (social insurance) contributions.