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What brought you to Tallinn University, and what were your main goals for the research internship?

The research internship at Tallinn University provided an opportunity to work in an international academic environment and to receive research guidance related to my doctoral dissertation. A central part of the internship was devoted to discussing the aims, structure and methodology of my research with my international academic supervisor, Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja. Throughout the internship, particular attention was given to refining the research design, developing individual sections of the dissertation, and discussing the theoretical and methodological aspects of the research.

What did you work on during your time at Tallinn University?

A significant part of the internship was dedicated to my PhD dissertation, titled “National-Сultural Specificity and Axiological Aspect of Advertising Texts (based on the Material of Chinese, Kazakh and Russian Languages).” During the internship, I worked on refining the research design and improving the structure and content of individual dissertation sections. I also analysed and systematised scholarly sources and research materials relevant to the study. Several research consultations focused on the theoretical and methodological aspects of the dissertation. I also continued editing and expanding the dissertation text and preparing materials for future academic publications.

How did Tallinn University’s academic resources support your research?

I visited the Academic Library and the University Learning Centre, where I worked with scholarly literature, academic resources and research support services. I also used the university’s electronic academic databases. The literature was selected and systematised as part of the ongoing research process.

What opportunities did you have to present and discuss your research?

I delivered lectures and presentations introducing the topic, aims and objectives of my dissertation, as well as its main research areas and methods. The presentations also covered the key provisions and research results of the doctoral project. The lectures were followed by academic discussions and an exchange of views on the research. These discussions provided an opportunity to receive feedback. As part of academic exchange and research cooperation, I also participated in the COST Conference, where I took part in scholarly discussions and exchanged research experience and academic perspectives with other participants.

What were some of the main outcomes of the internship?

The internship enabled me to make sustained progress on several areas of my doctoral research. I refined the research design, developed individual dissertation sections, analysed and systematised academic sources, and continued preparing materials for scholarly publications. The later stages of the internship focused on analysing the collected materials, expanding and editing sections of the dissertation, discussing interim research results, and identifying directions for further work. The final stage was devoted to summarising the research activities and preparing the concluding materials of the internship. The internship was also an opportunity to develop academic communication through lectures, consultations, conference participation and scholarly discussions.

I also participated in the “Build a Career at BFM” seminar series by MEDIT for early-career researchers. I attended Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja’s session, “How to Get Ethics Approval: A Practical Guide,” which provided practical insights into the ethics approval process and the preparation of research ethics applications. The session helped me better understand how to clearly formulate research aims and methodology and how to address important aspects of research involving participants, including informed consent, data collection, confidentiality and potential risks.

How has the international research experience contributed to your doctoral work?

The research internship at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School created an opportunity to combine independent dissertation work with academic consultation, access to international scholarly resources and participation in academic exchange. The discussions with Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja provided an important framework for continuing the doctoral research and preparing materials for future academic publications.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, for her academic supervision, consultations and constructive discussions throughout the research internship. I am also grateful to Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School for providing access to academic resources, research support services and an international academic environment that supported the development of my doctoral research.

The research internship demonstrates the value of international academic exchange and research cooperation between higher education institutions in Kazakhstan and Estonia. It also highlights the importance of opportunities that allow doctoral researchers to engage with international academic communities while developing their research, publications and professional networks.

BFM congratulates Laila Karakulova on the successful completion of her research internship and wishes her continued success in the development and completion of her doctoral research. For additional information, please contact Dr Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication, Head of the MA Programme in Communication Management, and Executive Director of the European Masters in Intercultural Communication, at anastassia.zabrodskaja@tlu.ee.