Mania Borzenko successfully passes the doctoral candidacy exam

We are proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Mania Borzenko, a graduate student at our laboratory, who has successfully passed her doctoral candidacy examination—a pivotal milestone in her PhD journey. At the Technion, the candidacy exam, typically conducted about a year into doctoral studies, is considered as demanding and decisive as the final dissertation defense.

Mania distinguished herself not only by passing this challenging exam but by excelling in every aspect of it. She completed the written portion of the examination in just two days instead of the allotted four, showcasing both efficiency and depth of knowledge. In her oral defense, she impressed the committee with her mastery of the subject, clarity of thought, and command of the literature.

Her dissertation project, “Youth Activism Related Policies: A Comparative Analysis,” investigates how international organisations such as the World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF construct narratives around youth activism and how these narratives align—or misalign—with national policies and curricula.

What makes Mania’s achievement especially noteworthy is the pace and quality of her progress. In just her first year of doctoral studies, she has already co-authored peer-reviewed articles, demonstrating both scholarly productivity and the ability to contribute meaningfully to international academic debates.

The examination committee included distinguished scholars: Prof. Tzipi Horowitz-Kraus (Technion), Prof. Einat Heyd-Metzuyanim (Technion), Prof. Lotem Perry-Hazan (University of Haifa), and Prof. Garth Stahl (University of Queensland). Their recognition of Mania’s achievements underscores the excellence of her work and the promise of her ongoing research.