PhD Training for 1st and 2nd Year Students 2026
Methodologies of Human Rights Research
The 2026 1st and 2nd year PhD training took place on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 April at Utrecht University. The training titled "Methodologies of Human Rights Research" focused on strengthening the methodological foundations of PhD researchers in human rights and legal scholarship. Through a series of interactive seminars and workshops, participants explored core methodological approaches in human rights legal research, reflected on making deliberate and well-argued methodological choices, and received practical guidance on refining research questions and translating them into feasible research designs. The programme also introduced participants to a range of methodological tools relevant to contemporary human rights research, including critical discourse analysis, digital ethnography, semi-structured interviewing, and citizen-science and co-creation techniques, while encouraging engagement with reflexive and critical perspectives on legal scholarship. In addition to the academic programme, the training provided a valuable opportunity for participants to connect with fellow PhD researchers, exchange ideas, and strengthen their professional network in a supportive academic environment. You can find the call for papers here and the full programme here.
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