PhD training programme
PhD candidates follow training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness. Advanced courses to deepen scientific knowledge are offered by the Research Institutes. Skills training and courses in personal effectiveness are organized and offered by the Graduate School of Science. An overview of skills and personal effectiveness training courses is given below. Parts of this multi-year training programme are compulsory for all PhD candidates of the Faculty of Science; this includes Time Management, Communication in Science, Effective Communication, and Scientific Integrity. In addition the Graduate School of Science offers several optional courses in collaboration with HRM Services of Leiden University
- Planning the Training Programme
- Registration for courses
- Courses of the Training Programme
- Further courses
- Exemptions
- Planning the Training Programme
Before the end of the PhD programme all four compulsory courses – Time Management, Communication in Science, Effective Communication, and Scientific Integrity – should be finished. The preferred moment of attendance within the PhD programme is as in the above figure.
- Registration for courses
Since all PhD candidates have their own busy schedule of experiments, writings, teaching obligations etc, PhD candidates can register themselves for the courses.
PhD candidates themselves are responsible to register for the courses at their preferred moment. For each course the method of registration is listed. Most courses are organised by the HRM Services of Leiden University, for those courses a registration for should be filled out. This form can be obtained by following the link of the course of choice. On the website of the HRM services of Leiden University, the registration form can be found in the yellow bar on the right.
Please fill out the form completely and print the document. Your supervisor and yourself should sign the form, a completely filled out for can be sent to the HRM Services of Leiden University.
- Courses of the Training Programme
The courses below are listed in order of the preferred time of attendance.
Time managementCompulsory Course
Preferred moment of attendance: 6 months after starting
Duration: 1 day and intervision of half a day
Number of participants: 10 participants per session
Arranged by HRM servicesof Leiden University
The course shows up the behaviour that leads to inefficient use of time. You will be given practical tips for carrying our your work more effectively and more efficiently.
During the course you will look at your own ineffective time management behaviour. You will learn about what causes this and will work on a more effective approach. We look at limiting factors: why do intentions not have the desired effect?
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
CoachingOptional Course
Preferred moment of attendance: Second half of the first year
Number of participants: Individual sessions
Arranged by HRM advisors of the Faculty of Science
Coaching is a type of supervision whereby the client presents a work related problem. The aim is that the client learns (part of) his work by taking control himself, performing in such a way that he makes a contribution to the goal of the organisation he’s a part of in the way that he would like to. It concerns subjects such as how the PhD candidate:
- works with others
- performs in specific situations such as leadership
- negotiates, advises or influences
- handles situations with colleagues, which are difficult for him.
Registration via the course submission form of the Graduate School of Science or your HRM advisor of the Faculty of Science
Communication in ScienceCompulsory Course
Preferred moment of attendance: End of the first year
Duration: 5 sessions of half a day during 5 weeks, followed by 4 individual sessions
Number of participants: 20 per course
Arranged by Communication in Science lecturers from the LUMC
Various forms of oral and written presentations will be looked at from the perspective of interaction, with special attention to linguistic aspects. Participants meet for 5 periods for theory and practice sessions (including a video session). The participants use their own material so that they can use what they have learned directly in their own research. Individual consultation with the lecturer (4 half hour sessions) is also a part of the training programme.
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
IntervisionOptional Course
Preferred moment of attendance: Second year
Duration: 4 sessions of 2 hours
Number of participants: 6 per course
Arranged by HRM advisors of the Faculty of Science
During this type of intervision session, you are given the opportunity to structurally discuss a number of problems encountered in your work with your fellow PhD students. You will learn to consult each other, to share your work experiences, and to discuss them with each other in a fruitful non-judgmental manner. In practice, this means that you may raise a particular issue and then learn from the questions and advice of your colleagues. Through thinking about the issues other people raise, you will also learn to develop your advisory skills and to work together with your colleagues on providing solutions to the problems which are brought forth. In this way, all participants have the opportunity to share opinions, to improve their professional skills and to develop ideas on how to deal with specific situations. It is not about the scientific content but about personal issues.
Registration via the course submission form of the Graduate School of Science or your HRM advisor of the Faculty of Science
Effective communicationCompulsory Course
Preferred moment of attendance: Half way into the second year
Duration: 1 day
Number of participants: 10 per course
Arranged by HRM servicesof Leiden University
During the four years of working towards your PhD you will be cooperating with a number of different people. One important person during this period is your supervisor and/or promoter. He/she will have an impact on you and on your performance. During the process towards becoming an independent researcher it is, at times, crucial to have an influence on your surroundings by demonstrating effective behaviour, particularly towards your supervisor and/or promoter. Experience teaches us that most researchers during their training predominantly apply one or two familiar methods of behaviour to influence the ‘professor’. We are offering you this one day training course to help you to extend the range of behavioural skills available to you. The course is based on an interaction model known as The Rose of Leary. In the morning we practice the theory and in the afternoon we engage in role play with an actor.
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
Scientific integrityCompulsory Course
Preferred moment of attendance: End of the second year
Duration: Half a day
Number of participants: 20 per course
Arranged by the Graduate School of Science
The purpose of the workshop is get familiar with the scientific norms of Leiden University and to provide a contribution to the development of the PhD candidate’s own notion of norms in relation to desired and undesired conduct in science. Participants will be made aware of “bad scientific conduct”, what they think of it and what they could do to expose it.
Registration via the course submission form of the Graduate School of ScienceDates 2012:
February 16, 2012 from 12:30-16:30 ***workshop fully booked***
Invitations will be sent a.s.a.p
Dates in May and September to be announced
Intellectual Property – Patents / CopyrightsOptional Course
Preferred moment of attendance: End of the third year
Duration: Half a day
Number of participants: Number of participants can vary
Arranged by Ivo de Nooijer of LURIS
The objective of the course is to introduce Intellectual property (IP) in general and specifically patent law and copyright law. The course provides a broad overview of IP and relevant details of certain areas with which the scientist is likely to come into contact. By providing relevant examples and case studies the subject matter will be put into a practical perspective.
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
Information is currently only available in Dutch, however the course is thaught in English.
No dates have been sent, but PhD candidates can show their interest for this course by filling out the registration form.
Research & FinanceOptional Course
Preferred moment of attendance: End of the third year
Duration: Half a day
Number of participants: Number of participants can vary
Arranged by Anna Groeninx of LURIS
The objective of the course is to introduce a typology for research funding and its specific objectives. Attention will be given to developing efficient strategies for selecting funds and how to approach them. Participants of this course will have to indicate beforehand what type of research funding they are looking for. Participants will spend the second half of this course doing hands on searching for funds.
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
Writing an excellent grant proposalOptional Course
Preferred moment of attendance: End of the third year
Duration: 1 day
Number of participants: Number of participants can vary
Arranged by HRM servicesof Leiden University
Principally about the Rubicon, Veni and Vidi project, but the principles are also suitable for other grant programmes. You will learn how to present your research project optimally. This involves making the proposal both structured and concise, presenting yourself properly and emphasizing aspects as innovation, uniqueness and relevance to leave a distinctive impression to the judging committee. During this training you will not only get the tools, but also put them into practice by starting to write or by improving your own research proposal.
Registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
Workshops in career counsellingOptional Courses
Preferred moment of attendance: 4th year
Duration: Length of the modules vary
Arranged by HRM services of Leiden University, various lecturers
When the end of the PhD programme is approacing, most PhD candidates start wondering about their future. Sometimes it is obvious which career path will be chosen, sometimes not so. Different workshops are offered in order to help PhD candidates make an informed decision about their future career.
Workshops offered are:
Competences and interests; registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
Interests, motivations and preferences; registration via HRM Services of Leiden University
- Further courses
For PhD interested in Entrepreneurship the Science Based Bussiness department of the Faculty is offering the course “Orientation on Technopreneurship”.
HRM Services of Leiden University also offers other courses, which might be of interest for PhD students. More courses can also be found on the Dutch Website of HRM Services of Leiden University.
Other available courses are, amongst others:
- Planning and managing your dissertation
- Teaching skills course for PhDs
- Sneller Lezen / IBeter Geheugen (Course only available in Dutch)
- Creatief Denken (Course only available in Dutch)Language courses are offered by the Academic Language Centre.
Courses in Dutch and English, as well as other languages are available.
- Exemptions
Sometimes PhD candidates have already participated in courses similar to a course of the compulsory training programme. Exemptions for courses of the PhD training programme can be made by sending a request using the Exemption Form for the PhD Training Programme.
Please indicate the reason why an exemption should be made, if applicable also include proof of participation in other courses. Upon receival of the request, the Graduate School of Science will make a decision whether or not exemption is granted. The decision will be sent, by email, to the PhD candidate as well as the supervisor.
