PhD UW CUP
17 04 2026
The seventh anniversary of the establishment of the University of Warsaw’s doctoral schools provided an opportunity not only to take stock, but above all to build and strengthen relationships within the community of young researchers. The PhD UW CUP Tournament for the Rector’s Cup, organised to mark the occasion, is an example of how modern doctoral education goes beyond teaching research skills to include the conscious building of an academic community.
In a tournament held on 11 April at the Faculty of Management Sports Hall, teams representing four doctoral schools at the University of Warsaw competed against one another. The winning team was that of the Doctoral School of Humanities, which won all its matches.
The event took place as part of the PhD UW initiative, run by the Office of the Vice-Rector for Doctoral and Legal Affairs, which aims to foster relationships among PhD students through activities that go beyond the traditional model of education. The organisation of sporting, artistic and social events addresses the real needs of the PhD community, which is highly dispersed within the University of Warsaw. In a community of over 1,700 PhD students, integration initiatives become a key tool for building a sense of community. Events such as the ‘PhD UW CUP’ help break down barriers, facilitate the exchange of experiences and foster the creation of collaborative networks that can have a real impact on the development of academic careers.
The seven years since the University of Warsaw’s doctoral schools were established have seen not only the development of educational programmes and the academic achievements of doctoral students, but also the gradual formation of a strong, cohesive academic community. Social events demonstrate that the doctoral community is not formed solely in laboratories and libraries, but also in spaces for meeting, collaboration and shared celebration.
