Call for Applications: University of Innsbruck (Austria) – Spring School on Media Literacy for PhD Students (Project-Based Short-Term Academic Stay)

          The University of Innsbruck invites PhD students to apply for a fully-funded short-term academic stay to participate in the Spring School on Media Literacy, taking place from March 14 to March 24, 2027, in Innsbruck, Austria. The Spring School is organized within the framework of the TeDiMeLi project (“Teaching Digital Media Literacy in Times of Societal Change in Ukraine”), funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

About the Program.

           This academic stay under the TeDiMeLi project provides selected PhD students of Chernihiv Polytechnic National University with the opportunity to participate in the Spring School and present their own research projects to an international audience. Through lectures by leading experts, discussions, and practical workshops, participants will be able to:

• Expand and deepen their knowledge of media literacy;
• Familiarize themselves with the latest research and trends in this field;
• Receive feedback on their dissertation research and gain new perspectives for their scientific work;
• Establish international academic contacts and foster professional growth.

Eligibility.

          Applicants must be enrolled as PhD students at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University at the time of application.

Language and Presentation.

          The Spring School will be conducted in English; therefore, a very good command of English is required. Each participant will present their dissertation research in the form of a 15-minute presentation and a poster.

Funding.

          Selected participants will receive:

• Travel expense reimbursement of up to EUR 400;
• Accomodation in a double room (shared accomodation) with breakfast, booked and paid for directly by the project;
• Meal vouchers for the university canteen (one meel per day, excluding Saturdays and Sundays).

Application Procedure.

          The application and selection process consists of two stages.

Stage 1: Submission of Applications.

          Candidates are invited to submit their complete application package to their university’s selection committee via email at [email protected]. The application must include:

• A motivation letter explaining the candidate’s interest in participating in the Spring School at the University of Innsbruck and how learning media literacy will contribute to their academic and professional development;
• An up-to-date CV highlighting the candidate’s academic and scientific background;
• A recommendation letter from the candidate’s academic supervisor;
• A document confirming the candidate’s PhD enrollment at the university;
• A copy of the candidate’s international passport.

          Application Deadline -November 15, 2026.

Stage 2: Selection and Interviews.

          Following a preliminary review by the university selection committees, shortlisted applications will be evaluated by the TeDiMeLi project selection committee led by the University of Innsbruck. Candidates who advance to the next stage will be invited to a brief online interview.

          Candidates will be notified of the selection results in early January 2027.

Selection Criteria.

          Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of the proposed stay to the candidate’s academic goals;
• Significance of media literacy training for the candidate’s research and potential future career;
• Academic background and research potential of the candidate.