Education and development

As a PhD candidate you are encouraged to develop yourself by following courses and/or attending seminars. These may be courses offered by the Graduate School of Geosciences, or other courses offered by Utrecht University or any other university or research school. The Training and Supervision Agreement (TSA) should list the courses that you intend to follow during your PhD track.

The PhD course Responsible Conduct of Research is obligatory for all PhD candidates in the GSG (with possible exceptions, where appropriate). Also, all PhD candidates whose PhD tracks start from 1 September 2020 onwards at Utrecht University, should enroll in education training, if they have any education tasks. You should enroll in education training (preferably) before you start with your education tasks. Exceptions are possible in special cases. You can read more about these two courses and their procedures on exceptions below, under “Mandatory courses”. The GSG has no obligation regarding (a minimum number of) ECTS.

You should discuss your educational needs with your supervisor(s). In principle, your spend at least 80% of your time within the PhD track on research and at most 20% on the training component, such as training on the job in teaching and following courses. The time to be spent on training depends on your prior learning and experiences. The right to follow courses applies to time, not to financial resources. Courses provided by the Graduate School of Geosciences can be followed for free by PhD candidates that are employed by Utrecht University and that are members of the Graduate School of Geosciences. Other courses may cost money – be sure to ask your supervisor for approval!

Currently, the Graduate School of Geosciences only requires its PhD course Responsible Conduct of Research and an education training if you have education tasks. Keep in mind that National Research Schools and/or your department may have additional requirements.

(Deviation for non-employees and non-scholarship PhD candidates.)

Responsible conduct of research

The PhD course “Responsible conduct of research” is mandatory for all GSG PhD candidates (including external candidates), who started their track from September 2017 onwards, and that did not follow the Scientific Integrity course organized by GSG in 2018 or earlier.

The course consists of four modules. You should follow one module a year. If you started between September 2017 and 1 January 2020, you'll start the course in December 2020 - you follow modules until you graduate. If you started your track in 2020, you start the course in 2021 and follow all modules. Discuss the planning each year in your annual progress review (or A&D). Have the course certificate available (upload it to the MyPhD portfolio tab when this becomes available) before you send your manuscript to the Assessment Committee. There are transitional arrangements for candidates who started before September 2017.

Exemptions may be granted only in exceptional cases. A reasoned request to this effect must be submitted by your promotor to the vice-dean of research. The vice-dean of research decides. Only an explicit approval of the request is valid.

Education training

All PhD candidates whose PhD tracks start from 1 September 2020 onwards at Utrecht University and that have education tasks, should enroll in education training. This is mandatory. You should enroll in education training (preferably) before you start with your education tasks. The training will use the resources of the UU Start to Teach programme, the development offer of the Centre for Academic Teaching, or the Start to Teach programme of the Graduate School of Geosciences. See also education and development for the possibilities.

Exemptions may be granted if you have sufficient experience in teaching, for example, as a junior teacher. A reasoned request must be submitted by your promotor to the vice-dean of education and the vice-dean of research. The vice-deans decide together. Only an explicit approval of the request is valid.

It is wise to start thinking about your future career at an early stage of your PhD track. Therefore, PhD candidates employed by Utrecht University are offered different employment programmes before the end of their PhD, some of which are also accessible for other PhD candidates. These programmes often include personal development.

The Utrecht University Development Guide is a website on which you can find opportunities for professional and personal development, linked to the development path that fits with your requirements. You can find self-tests, tools (such as coaching and feedback tools) and information on different learning pathways. For UU employees only.
All PhD candidates are encouraged to take part in the PhD Activating Career Event (PhACE) during the third year of their track. This event aims to help PhD candidates at the end of the doctorate to explore different career steps. When you have participated in this event further coaching will be available through the career officer of the faculty.
If you did not manage to find a job by the end of your employment contract, Work2Work will offer you a re-employment coaching programme (UU employees only).
You can also plan an interview with the faculty’s Career Officer, Franca Geerdes, in case you have questions about how to continue your career, or if you would like to discuss your resume, or get advice about steps to take in your career orientation. For all candidates.
Career Services for PhDs consists of online tests and instructional videos, individual coaching and workshops, in which PhDs will work on issues like a healthy work-life balance, interpersonal skills and career orientation. We believe that this will have a positive influence on productivity and well-being at work. A good investment, applicable both in and outside of academia. All services are free of charge and all PhDs are welcome, including those who have completed their PhD in the last 6 months.

Please note that other organisations offer career orientation courses as well (see External career orientation and personal development courses). Discuss opportunities with your supervisor(s) at an early stage, especially when it comes to courses or training on personal effectiveness, time management or other training related to the job market.

Education and development

Mandatory courses

Courses Graduate School of Geosciences

Courses Utrecht University

Courses National Research Schools

Summer schools and other discipline-specific courses

Language courses

UU Career orientation and personal development courses

External career orientation and professional development courses

Other useful information

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