The welcoming session brought together the cohort of doctoral students and faculty members from all three partner universities. Besides a short introduction by the coordination team, an interactive round helped participants get to know each other across disciplines and institutions.

In the upcoming semester, activities will include our monthly research colloquium featuring talks on key themes of Digital Humanism, follow-up workshops for in-depth discussions among PhD students, and weekly co-working days at the programme’s shared base, the Education Lab.

The Education Lab provides a shared space where doctoral students and supervisors from all three universities can meet, work, and exchange ideas, serving as a hub for ongoing collaboration.

This semester’s colloquium sessions will focus on the Foundations of Digital Humanism, Data Science and Society, and Work, Organisation, and Digital Transformation. Together, these activities set the tone for a semester centred on exchange, reflection, and mutual learning.

📸 Photos: Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism

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Read the article on kurier.at (in German)

Download the article as PDF (in German)

The post Insights through Collaboration: DigHum Doctoral College featured in Kurier appeared first on dighumcollege Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism.

Registration for this event is now closed.

You are kindly invited to join the official Kick-off of the 

Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism.

We look forward to sharing with you the development of our college with its interdisciplinary research focus. The event is open to all with an interest in Digital Humanism, including researchers, students, policy-makers, and members of the public. Special guests will include representatives from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), the City of Vienna, and leadership from TU Wien, University of Vienna, and WU Vienna.

‘The “Digital Humanism” doctoral programme is more than just a research programme – it is an investment in the future of our society.’ *
Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Executive City Councillor Cultural Affairs and Science, City of Vienna

Wednesday, 19^th of November 2025

09:30h – 16:00h

Urania Sternwarte / Dachgeschoss, Uraniastraße 1, 1010 Vienna

Agenda

9:30 – 10:00      Arrival & Welcome Coffee        

10:00 – 10:50    Welcome & Opening Remarks            

• Veronica Kaup-Hasler, City of Vienna (Stadt Wien) to be confirmed
• Michael Strassnig (Deputy Managing Director WWTF)
• Peter Ertl (Vice-Rector of Research, Innovation and International Affairs, TU Wien)
• Manuela Baccarini (Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs, University of Vienna)
• Bernadette Kamleitner (Vice Rector for Research and Third Mission, WU Vienna)

10:50 – 11:15    Introduction to the Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism

Interdisciplinarity and transfer of methods: How we are shaping a responsible, digital future  

• Peter Knees (TU Wien) 
• Sophie Lecheler (University of Vienna)
• Marta Sabou (WU Vienna) 
• Jan Maly (WU Vienna)

11:15 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:30    Interview-Spotlight on PhD Projects: What, why, how. 

Interdisciplinarity in research practice 

• PhD Students presenting their projects

12:30 – 14:00    Lunch & Networking

14:00 – 15:00    Keynote + Discussion: Digital Humanism in Action** 

Digital Humanism calls for a rethinking of our relationship with technology, knowledge, and society. But what does this mean in concrete research practice: in the everyday work of a new generation of scholars?

• Katja Mayer (University of Vienna)

15:00 – 16:00h               Closing Remarks, Networking, Coffee + Gugelhupf

** Key Note Digital Humanism in Action
Digital Humanism calls for a rethinking of our relationship with technology, knowledge, and society. But what does this mean in concrete research practice: in the everyday work of a new generation of scholars?

This keynote will respond to the themes and questions emerging from the morning session, exploring where we currently see the most promising opportunities, exemplary initiatives, and open spaces for action within Digital Humanism. It will also reflect on the critical challenges we face: how to sustain interdisciplinarity beyond rhetoric, how to balance openness with responsibility, and how to translate values such as democracy, justice, and participation into the design and governance of digital systems especially in times of extreme politics, polarization, and the pervasive experiences of doom and gloom that shape our collective imagination.

Rather than offering fixed answers, this talk aims to invite collective reflection on how Digital Humanism can evolve as a living practice; one that not only studies but also shapes the conditions for a responsible digital future.

Dr Katja Mayer is Senior Scientist at the Centre for Social Innovation ZSI and a sociologist at the STS department of the University of Vienna. She works at the intersection of science, technology, and society. Since 2019, she has focused on the politics of open science and open data in the context of computational social sciences and AI.

*Verbatim: Media Release published by the City of Vienna and WWTF on October, 28th, 2024: „Digitaler Humanismus: Neues Doktoratskolleg an drei Wiener Unis startet“

Registration is now closed.
We look forward to officially kicking off the DigHum Doctoral College with you!

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Doctoral candidates will become part of a vibrant research community at TU Wien, University of Vienna, and WU Wien, benefit from joint supervision, structured training, and a collaborative environment that bridges academic disciplines.

Topics include interdisciplinary approaches to user modeling in data-driven systems, sensor-driven adaptive navigation systems, AI knowledge communication and co-production, regulatory enforcement in digital governance, and infrastructure design for open science data ecosystems.

Download the full call [PDF] for detailed information on research areas, application requirements, and instructions on how to apply.

The application period is now closed.

For any questions, please feel free to contact us at dighum-dc@ec.tuwien.ac.at.

The post Second Call for Applications: 5 PhD Positions at the Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism appeared first on dighumcollege Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism.

As part of the session “10 DigHum Projects in Action”, Peter Knees (TU Wien) introduced the vision, structure, and goals of our Doctoral College. The session brought together key initiatives funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) to highlight how interdisciplinary research can contribute to shaping digital technologies in alignment with human values. It was an honor to be among such inspiring projects and to see Digital Humanism thriving as a growing field of inquiry.

The conference was special to us for another reason: our very first cohort of doctoral researchers met in person for the first time. After months of online introductions and preparation, seeing the group come together at the heart of Vienna’s digital humanism community was a meaningful and energizing moment for everyone involved. These early days of connection are already laying the foundation for what we hope will become a strong, engaged, and collaborative community of researchers.

We’re just getting started, and we look forward to growing together as a community and contributing to the global conversation on Digital Humanism.

The post DigHum Doctoral College Debuts at Digital Humanism Conference 2025 appeared first on dighumcollege Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism.

The episode, filmed at TU Wien’s Pilotfabrik, delved into the future of research and the importance of interdisciplinary education in addressing complex societal challenges. This perspective aligns with the mission of the Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism, which aims to cultivate a new generation of researchers adept at navigating the intersections of technology, society, and human values.

You can watch the full interview here: Krone TV Interview

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Further Information

Digital technology profoundly shapes the world we live in by revolutionizing virtually all areas of human life. Therefore, it is paramount to identify and mitigate any undesirable effects of the currently ongoing digital transformation while also amplifying its positive impact on society. This is the mission of Digital Humanism, which deals with digital technology development and policies based on human rights, democracy, inclusion, and diversity.

The newly established Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism invites applications from outstanding candidates eager to shape the future of this emerging interdisciplinary field. The Doctoral College is located across the TU Wien, University of Vienna, and WU Wien and its doctoral candidates tackle critical societal challenges arising from digital transformation. The Doctoral College offers a unique opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Informatics and Social Sciences/Humanities.

The post First Call for Applications: Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism appeared first on dighumcollege Vienna Doctoral College on Digital Humanism.