The joint doctoral programme is interdisciplinary and innovation-oriented, based on practice-led research in digital arts and audiovisual media, combining artistic creativity, scientific-technological innovation and critical-analytical research methods. The study programme’s approach is based on the creation of an environment in which practice – an active process of (art) creation, critical reflections on it and the resulting new theory and knowledge – is the main element of the research process. An artist who carries out such research is called a “reflective practitioner”.
Lectures are held in person three times a year, for one week each, in a colloquium format. Between colloquiums, studies are facilitated by online guided learning environments and/or off-campus consultancy and project development sites (e.g. creative industries, NGOs, government institutions, hospitals, laboratories). Research carried out in collaboration with external institutions (e.g. NGOs, creative industries, research and higher education institutions, network communities, etc.) is discussed on a case-by-case basis with the help of the Scientific Work Management Group and is coordinated by the Administrative Group.
The achievement of the study results is ensured by the programme’s content, the extensive modules on research methodology (A1-01 and A1-02 “Academic Writing and Creative Practice”) and art and media theory (A1-03 “Theory and Methodology”) etc., as well as the student’s own active academic and research practice. The programme consists of: Theory and Creative Research Part A (Compulsory Part) – 42 CP, Thesis and Examinations Part B – 79 CP, and Competences Part C (Optional Part) – 11 CP (Teaching and organisational activities, conference papers, exhibitions, etc.) As the programme is based on individual studies, the largest amount of CPs and therefore hours is dedicated to the development of the doctoral thesis or the lead art research (70 CPs), which takes place between colloquia.
The colloquium takes place at the Architecture and Media Centre H2O6 at 4 Durbes Street, where the video, sound and editing studios are located, as well as at the MPLab Art Research Lab in Liepāja. Doctoral students have the opportunity to earn credit points by participating in doctoral summer schools organised by partner universities – Aalto University in Helsinki (Finland), Technological University Dublin (Ireland), Oslo Metropolitan University (Norway) – as well as in the jointly organised international scientific conferences “Open Fields” and “Renewable Futures”, which are dedicated to the development of art and science research in Northern Europe and whose network includes more than 60 universities from 30 countries of the world.