From 18 to 20 June 2025, the Chair of International Relations and Transnational Politics was pleased to host a three-day PhD workshop led by guest researcher Prof. Santiago Sosa, Associate Professor at EAFIT University in Medellin, Colombia. The workshop brought together nine doctoral students from across various institutes and faculties of Leipzig University.
The sessions delved into the core aspects of theory building—examining what theories are, how they are developed, and how to craft coherent research objectives. In addition, the workshop covered a range of methodological approaches, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, with a focus on their appropriate and context-sensitive application.
Beyond the sessions led by Prof. Sosa, each PhD student also presented their ongoing research projects, using the opportunity to receive targeted feedback on their theoretical frameworks and methodological designs. Alongside Prof. Sosa, Prof. Dr. Solveig Richter offered valuable input throughout the workshop, helping participants refine their approaches and chart clearer paths forward in their doctoral work.
The PhD students found the workshop highly engaging and intellectually enriching, as it offered new perspectives and concrete guidance for their ongoing research. The opportunity to engage across disciplines also sparked valuable exchanges on the theoretical and empirical challenges of doctoral work. This initiative is part of the Chair’s continued efforts to strengthen methodological and theoretical training for early-career researchers at Leipzig University.
This workshop was conducted within the framework and support of the Erasmus+ cooperation between Leipzig University and EAFIT University, Medellin, Colombia.