Ph.D. students from Olomouc, Vienna and Ljubljana gathered for the first time at Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology, Palacký University Olomouc. The CEEPUS Doctoral Exchange lasted from 3 to 5 April 2025.
During the workshop, the students actively engaged in several academic activities: they presented their dissertation project, showcasing their research and findings to peers and faculty members. Additionally, the students participated in discussions about other projects, contributing valuable insights and feedback.
Among the guests were not only Slovenes and Austrians, but also students born in Poland, Malta, Sri Lanka, Benin and Congo. Together with the Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian participants from Palacký, they formed a very diverse group. And this was reflected in the variety of topics discussed: from the channeling of childhood aggression to the common good, from women workers in Sri Lankan textile factories to the Estonian school of theosemiotics.
The program also included two lectures delivered by guest professors. Roman Globokar from the University of Ljubljana presented his international project on research ethics and showed videos illustrating specific moral conflicts in science, produced as part of this project. Sigrid Müller from the University of Vienna discussed her participation in the Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission and explained the tool used by this committee for assessing ethical questions, using the example of polygamy.
“During lunch, the idea emerged that the next meeting of this group could be held in Malta,” said Dominik Opatrný, the main organizer of this year's event. “This would require a different approach to funding, but it is manageable. In any case, it would provide students with a highly enriching experience, exposing them to the unique Maltese blend of European and African cultures, issues of overpopulation, and ecological challenges.”
Speakers and titles of lectures:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roman Globokar (University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Theology)
The Ethics of Research.
Univ. Prof. Dr. Sigrid Müller (University of Vienna, Catholic Theological Faculty)
Intercultural And Ecumenical Theological Ethics.
