The Doctoral Student Forum 2024, held in Dublin, was organized by Prof. Andreas Lehmann-Wermser and Dr. Eva-Maria Tralle. This event was an exceptional platform for doctoral students to exchange ideas and receive valuable feedback on their PhD projects in a supportive and collaborative setting.

Engaging in the DSF allowed me to participate in fruitful discussions with the hosts and other doctoral students. The constructive feedback I received was crucial in advancing my research, and I gained a wealth of knowledge by learning about the diverse PhD projects of my peers. I found the research conducted by others to be quite inspiring. Their projects were intriguing, often focusing on areas that are overlooked or yet to be explored. These discussions significantly broadened my understanding of the field of music education, especially from an interdisciplinary perspective.

A standout aspect of the forum was the preparation and delivery of our one-minute talks for the poster session. Each participant needed to distill their research into a concise and engaging one-minute presentation, which was a great exercise in clarity and precision. Preparing for this talk required me to carefully consider how to effectively and compellingly communicate the essential points of my project within a very limited timeframe. During the presentation, I had the chance to share my research with a wider audience, capturing their interest and prompting meaningful discussions. This concise format challenged me to highlight the most important aspects of my work and present them in a way that was accessible and engaging to the listeners.

Additionally, the forum provided opportunities for one-on-one meetings with our respective mentors and scheduled appointments with the DSF programme coordinators. These sessions were invaluable in addressing our current challenges and future uncertainties, providing clarity and guidance for our research journeys.

Fiona Zong (宗宇晖)