PhD Summer School 10–11 June 2026

PhD suvekool_2025
  • 10.–11.06.2026
  • Meresuu Spa Hotellis. Aia 48a, Narva-Jõesuu
  • TÜ majandusteaduskond
Research event Seminar
Kaasrahastatud EL kaksiklogod
Author: Riigi Tugiteenuste keskus

Project "Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies" (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003) is co-funded by the European Union

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Author: Ülikoolide kodulehed

Dear colleagues and PhD students,

We invite doctoral students of social sciences from all Estonian universities to submit papers and poster abstracts to the PhD Summer School.

The event will be a 2-day workshop on June 10-11, 2026, in Narva-Jõesuu at the Meresuu Spa Hotel

The event offers excellent opportunities for local doctoral students in economics, business administration, political sciences, law, government and politics, and public administration and management to get feedback on their research projects, improve presentation and research skills, and establish academic contacts with local academics and experts. Furthermore, papers related to the PhD dissertations in the area of economics and business administration will compete for the 2026 Vello Vensel Doctoral Research Prize awarded by the Estonian Economic Association.

Keynote speakers:

  • Jan Fidrmuc (University of Lille): “Non-pecuniary returns to education”
  • Laur Kanger (University of Tartu, University of Sussex): “Sustainability crisis: do we need to rethink science and technology"
  • Niina Nummela (University of Turku, University of Tartu): ”Mixed methods research”

The deadline for submitting either a non-published paper related to the PhD dissertation or a poster abstract that introduces the research ideas and/or preliminary results is May 8, 2026.

Please register for the event and submit your paper or poster abstract using the submission form.

You will find guidelines for papers and posters and practical tips at the bottom of this invitation. Papers and poster abstracts will be pre-reviewed, and decisions will be announced by May 15, 2026.

With regard to financial matters, participation for Doctoral School members (as well as their supervisors) will be covered by the European Union Regional Development Fund. Costs to be covered are as follows: meals, materials, accommodation, and bus transfer from Tallinn/Tartu to summer school venue and back.

Important deadlines:

  • Submission deadline for a full paper or a poster abstract: May 8, 2026
  • Notification of acceptance of the submitted paper/poster abstract: May 15, 2026
  • Deadline for registration for the event: May 20, 2026
  • Deadline for submitting the final version of the paper or poster: May 27, 2026. Please upload your final paper/ready poster here.

NB! While the submission deadline is May 8, we would appreciate it if the PhD students interested in presenting in the summer school would inform organizers ASAP of their interest via e-mail.

Should you have questions about the event, Jaan Masso [email protected]

At the name of the organization committee:

Jaan Masso

Guidelines for papers

Papers should be drawn up according to international standards. Submitted papers can be work-in-progress, and they can be updated later according to the pre-reviewer’s comments and/or author’s needs. Accepted papers will be presented and discussed at the summer school. Full texts (electronic versions) of accepted papers will be made available to summer school participants. Doctoral working papers in the area of Economics and Business Administration will compete for the Vello Vensel Award issued by the Estonian Economic Association.


Guidelines for posters

The proposal should provide sufficient detail about your research project, and the following information should be covered:

1. Poster title

2. Author(s) name(s) and institution(s)

3. A brief structured abstract (250-300 words) including objectives, relevance, methods, results, conclusions and keywords.

Some practical tips for the authors of accepted posters. All posters must use the A0 portrait format (841 x 1189 mm/ 33.1 × 46.8 in). Deadline for submitting final posters: May 27, 2026.

Accepted posters will be printed out at the cost of the Estonian Doctoral School for Social Sciences.

The authors will get the opportunity to make a presentation at the summer school and should be available for discussion.

Add a notification and logo on the poster:

Project "Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies" (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003) is co-funded by the European Union

PhD Summer School in Social Sciences

June 10-11, 2026

PROGRAM

Day 1 – June 10

8:00Buses depart from Tallinn and Tartu
11:00-11.30Registration and welcome gathering
11.30Opening and Welcome address – Jaan Masso (UT)
11.30-12.30Keynote I: Jan Fidrmuc (University of Lille) “Non-pecuniary returns to education”
12.30-13.30

Session 1: Technology, chair: Gaygysyz Ashyrov (EBS)

Presentation 1: Murad Ismayilzada (UT), “Upstream responses to downstream automation by multinationals” Co-authors: Jaan Masso, Priit Vahter

Reviewer: Dmitry Kulikov, Eesti Pank

Presentation 2: Artur Toikka (TalTech), “Platform-Mediated Service Aesthetics”

Reviewer: Laur Kanger, University of Tartu

13.30-14.15Lunch
14.15-15:15Keynote II: Laur Kanger (University of Tartu, University of Sussex) “Sustainability crisis: do we need to rethink science and technology"
15.15-16.00Coffee & Poster Session
16.00-17.00

Session 2: Tourism & training, chair: Mari-Klara Stein (TalTech)

Presentation 1: Faisal Mohammed (EBS), ”The Effects of Training Design on Teachers' Pedagogical Digital Competence: A Meta-Analytic Approach”

Reviewer: Helen Poltimäe (UT)

Presentation 2: Aleksei Gorgadze (UT), “Understanding Museum Visitor Experience through Online Reviews: Evidence from Estonian Museums”.

Reviewer: Niina Nummela, University of Turku

17.20Departure for academic lecture in University of Tartu Narva College
17:40-19:00Academic lecture in University of Tartu Narva College
19:10Departure of Narva college for Merisuu Spa & Hotel
19.30-22.00Dinner

Day 2 – June 11

7.00-9.30Breakfast
9.30-11.00

Session 3: Education, Culture & Governance, chair: Kaire Põder (EBS)

Presentation 1: Faisal Mohammed (EBS), “Who Gains from Detracking? Evidence from German School Reforms”. Co-authors: Kaire Põder (EBS), Niveditha Prabakaran (EBS)

Reviewer: Jan Fidrmuc, University of Lille

Presentation 2: Margrit Kärp (UT), “Guides as facilitators of transformative experiences that inspire pro-environmental behaviours”

Reviewer: Niina Nummela, University of Turku

Presentation 3: Blessing Oyetunde (EBS), “Not by Virtue: Fiscal Architecture and the Coerced Rationality of Development“

Reviewer: Eve Parts, University of Tartu

11:00-11:30Coffee & check out
11:30-12:30Keynote III: Niina Nummela, University of Turku, University of Tartu, “Mixed methods research”
12.30-13.00

Feedback

Closing, Vello Vensel memory prize and best poster award – Helen Poltimäe (UT), Karin Jõeveer (TalTech), Dmitry Kulikov (Eesti Pank), Kätlin Pulk (EBS)

13.00-14.00Lunch
14:00Departure to Tallinn and Tartu, arrival ca 17:00
Transport to Narva-Jõesuu and back

June 10, 2026.

Tallinn

Departure: Ehitajate tee 3 at 8:00 AM

Stop: Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia, Liivalaia 33 (approx. 8:15–8:20 AM)

Tartu

Departure: In front of the Delta Building, Narva mnt. 18 at 8:00 AM

  • 10.–11.06.2026
  • Meresuu Spa Hotellis. Aia 48a, Narva-Jõesuu
  • TÜ majandusteaduskond
Research event Seminar