Monarch Announces the 2026 Autumn Doctoral Workshop: Scholarship in the Swiss Alps
Morschach, Switzerland | October 5–7, 2026
Monarch Switzerland is pleased to announce the next scheduled Doctoral Workshop, to be held from October 5 to October 7, 2026, inclusive, in the exceptional setting of Antoniushaus in Morschach, overlooking Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland .
The workshops represents a cornerstone of the Monarch doctoral journey. While the institution operates through a flexible, distance-based model, the periodic workshops provide a rare and invaluable opportunity for candidates, faculty, and alumni to engage in direct academic exchange, collaborative reflection, and scholarly development within a structured yet collegial environment.
A Defining Academic Experience
The Monarch Doctoral Workshop is carefully designed to support candidates at every stage of their research journey. Participants are invited to present elements of their work, whether early-stage proposals, conceptual frameworks, or advanced dissertation chapters, in a structured academic setting that encourages both clarity and intellectual rigor. Through this process, candidates engage in meaningful dialogue with faculty and peers, receiving thoughtful, constructive feedback that strengthens the coherence, depth, and direction of their research.
This exchange is not merely evaluative; it is developmental. It enables candidates to refine their arguments, test assumptions, and deepen their methodological positioning while gaining confidence in articulating and defending their ideas. At the same time, the workshop reinforces the applied orientation of Monarch’s doctoral philosophy, ensuring that research remains grounded in relevance, feasibility, and real-world impact.
In this way, the workshop becomes a pivotal moment within the doctoral journey, one in which individual inquiry is elevated through shared scholarly engagement, and where research begins to take on its fullest academic and professional form.
Community, Networking, and Scholarly Identity
While doctoral research is often experienced as an individual and deeply reflective endeavor, the Monarch Doctoral Workshop transforms it into a shared intellectual experience. Within this setting, candidates move beyond the isolation of independent study and engage directly with a community of scholars who are equally committed to advancing meaningful and applied research.
Through ongoing dialogue and informal exchange, participants build relationships that extend well beyond the duration of the workshop. Interactions with faculty become more dynamic and personal, allowing for deeper mentorship and academic guidance, while engagement with fellow candidates fosters a sense of collegiality and mutual support across diverse research domains. These connections often evolve into lasting professional relationships, contributing to each participant’s broader scholarly and career trajectory.
For alumni, the workshop offers an opportunity to remain actively connected to the intellectual life of the institution, contributing insights drawn from their own research journeys while supporting the development of current candidates. In this way, the workshop plays a central role in shaping not only academic progress, but also the formation of a distinct scholarly identity, one grounded in dialogue, reflection, and shared purpose within the Monarch community.
An Exceptional Setting for Reflection
The workshop is held at a dedicated seminar and education centre in Morschach, a location selected not only for its facilities but for its unique environmental and intellectual atmosphere. Positioned above Lake Lucerne, the setting offers a rare combination of natural beauty, tranquility, and cultural depth, allowing participants to step away from daily routines and engage more fully in focused academic work, reflection, and dialogue.
Just below Morschach lies the historic town of Brunnen, often referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Lucerne.” Situated along the shores of the lake and framed by the surrounding Alpine landscape, Brunnen occupies a place of particular significance in Swiss history. It stands opposite the Seelisberg, near the Rütli meadow where the founding oath of the Swiss Confederation was taken, and it was here that the Pact of 1291 was later reaffirmed. The region is deeply interwoven with national identity, including the legendary escape of William Tell along the nearby Axenstrasse.
Beyond its historical importance, Brunnen has long attracted artists, thinkers, and statesmen, including Hans Christian Andersen, Winston Churchill, and J. M. W. Turner.
A Gateway into the Doctoral Experience
For prospective candidates, the Monarch Doctoral Workshop offers a rare and authentic opportunity to observe and engage with the doctoral experience in its lived form. Rather than relying solely on program descriptions or formal materials, attendees are able to witness firsthand how research is developed, presented, and refined within the Monarch academic environment.
Through exposure to live research presentations, faculty feedback, and peer dialogue, prospective participants gain a clear understanding of the expectations, standards, and intellectual culture that define doctoral study at Monarch. This level of transparency allows individuals to assess, in a thoughtful and informed manner, whether the doctoral path—and the Monarch approach in particular—aligns with their own professional aspirations and academic interests.
Importantly, attendance at the workshop may be approached as a standalone experience. It provides a space for reflection and exploration without obligation, enabling prospective candidates to engage with the community, ask questions, and consider their next steps with clarity and confidence.
In this sense, the workshop serves not only as an academic gathering, but as a meaningful point of entry into the world of doctoral research—one grounded in openness, intellectual exchange, and informed decision-making.
Who Should Attend
Designed as both an academic forum and an immersive introduction to the Monarch doctoral experience, the workshop brings together a diverse group of participants united by a shared commitment to rigorous, applied research and scholarly development. It serves not only those actively engaged in doctoral work, but also individuals seeking to better understand the expectations, culture, and intellectual environment of advanced research at Monarch.
The workshop is open to:
- Current Monarch doctoral candidates
- Newly admitted candidates preparing to begin their research journey
- Alumni wishing to remain engaged with the Monarch research community
- Prospective candidates seeking to understand the lived experience of doctoral study at Monarch
Registration and Participation
As this is an academic workshop with limited capacity, interested participants are invited to contact the Administration Office to express their interest and receive further details regarding registration and participation.
Instructors
Dr. Henderson
Dean of the School
Professor of Business Ethics
Dr. York
Professor of Leadership
Dean of Student Development
Dr. Madarasz
Professor of International Relations & Philosophy
Dr. Beardsell
Doctoral Supervisor
Applied Research Specialist
Dr. Henderson combines academic leadership with senior industry experience in real estate finance and governance. He has taught at McGill University and the Grenoble Graduate School of Business and holds advanced degrees from Nijenrode University. His professional background includes senior executive roles at KPMG and Brookfield Asset Management, bringing a strong applied dimension to doctoral research and corporate responsibility.
Dr. York specializes in leadership, organizational culture, and group dynamics, with academic training from McGill University and St. Paul University (University of Ottawa). His background in critical care and healthcare instruction brings a distinctive applied perspective to leadership and human-centered research.
Dr. Madarasz is an international specialist in political philosophy and geoeconomic relations, with doctoral training from the University of Paris. A widely published scholar and experienced consultant, his work brings deep conceptual rigor and global perspective to doctoral research and critical inquiry.
Dr. Beardsell specializes in digital strategy and applied business research, with academic training from Northumbria University and extensive experience in European higher education. She currently leads digital competence initiatives at TU Delft, bringing a strong applied and innovation-focused perspective to doctoral supervision.