Workshops for PhD candidates
A healthy work-life balance, strong interpersonal skills and career orientation have a positive impact on both your productivity and well-being. With our training courses, you can work on strengthening your core skills. This is a long-term investment, as you can apply these skills to any challenge you face in your career, both inside and outside academia.
Personal Effectiveness
Do you sometimes feel that time is managing you instead of the other way around? This can lead to an ineffective way of working, sending you into an unproductive spiral. This workshop will give you tools to improve your self-management and to work more efficiently, effectively and consciously. As a result, you will increase your productivity, reduce stress and experience more inner balance.
After this workshop
- You will have knowledge of some classic time management models and methods.
- You know how to use these models to organise and prioritise your work, making it easier to get things done.
- You will know the distinction between urgent and important tasks and understand the psychology of your own decision-making.
- You will have a better understanding of the benefits of your own work style(s) and know how to recognise and avoid pitfalls.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Wednesday 23 April | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33A
- Monday 2 June | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33C
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Do you find it difficult to distribute your energy properly throughout the day? Maybe you often work without a break, skip meals or notice that you are exhausted at the end of the day. In this training you will learn how to be more conscious with your energy and how to find balance between exertion and recovery. By recognising your own patterns and tuning in more closely to what you need, you will increase your concentration, work enjoyment and resilience.
After this workshop
- You have a better understanding of your own energy patterns and know how to balance them better.
- You can deal more consciously with work pressure, breaks and recovery moments.
- You experience less energy loss and more focus, resilience and job satisfaction.
- You understand how flow works and how to apply it in your daily life.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
- Utrecht University students and recent graduates.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Monday 28 April | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33C
- Friday 13 June | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
In this workshop, you will reflect on your daily habits and routines in work and life. You will learn more about how habits are formed by looking at the so-called habit loop. This loop consists of four stages, namely: cue, craving, routine and result. You will discover how to break bad habits and how to build good ones. For each stage in the loop, you can create interventions to either cease or cultivate a habit. By familiarizing yourself with the Tiny Habits Method, you will learn more about formulating behavioral options, taking small steps and celebrating success. This will help you to internalize new behaviours.
After this workshop
- You are more aware of your own habits and know better how to stop, start or change them.
- You learn to use the habit loop to break or reinforce patterns.
- You discover how small behavioural changes can have a big effect.
- You practice techniques to make new habits permanent.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
- Utrecht University students and recent graduates.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Monday 12 May | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33A
- Wednesday 18 June | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Mindfulness is a combination of Eastern meditation techniques and Western psychology. Practising mindfulness can help you reduce stress. This workshop offers an introduction to mindfulness, with the aim of giving you a direct experience of what it involves. You will take part in various exercises to calm your mind and consciously relax your body. Through mindfulness, you train your attention to become more aware in the present moment, to make your decisions consciously, and to deal with unpleasant situations more effectively.
After this workshop
- You will know what mindfulness is and how to apply it in you daily life.
- You will have experienced Mindfulness with exercises you can continue to do at home for lasting results.
- You will have a list of useful apps and links to support your ongoing practice at home.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Jacky Limvers
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Thursday 1 May | 15.00-17.00 | Marinus Ruppert building, room B
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Do you set incredibly high standards for yourself? And do you rarely feel truly satisfied with what you’ve achieved? Perfectionism can be a powerful driving force, but it can also be exhausting and counterproductive. If your perfectionism is leading to recurring stress, anxiety or self-doubt, it’s time to take a closer look at its impact. In this workshop, we explore both the advantages and downsides of perfectionism, and how it influences your behaviour. By the end of this workshop, you'll be equipped with practical tools to develop a healthier mindset and work ethic. This will help you set more realistic expectations, embrace mistakes as part of growth, and replace self-criticism with self-compassion.
After this workshop
- You will know the pros and cons of perfectionism and how it affects your behaviour.
- You will have explored your own perfectionist tendencies and their root causes.
- You will have learned how to recognise and challenge your rigid thinking patterns using principles from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
- You will be equipped with practical techniques to increase your psychological flexibility and self-compassion.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Wednesday 25 June | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Did you know that the human psyche is naturally more focused on the negative? This ‘negativity bias’ is an evolutionary survival mechanism that helps us recognise threats and avoid danger. This is why we often dwell more on our mistakes and shortcomings than on our achievements and strengths. While this mechanism kept our ancestors safe, today it often limits our growth and overall well-being. During this workshop, we will analyse the 360-degree feedback you’ve gathered to gain a clear understanding of your strengths and talents. You'll also explore how you can apply your qualities and talents to achieve your goals. After attending this workshop, you will be more aware of your unique qualities and you'll have a set of concrete action points to use in both your professional and personal life.
After this workshop
- You will have a clear understanding of your qualities and strengths.
- You will have gained insight into your personality based on the Big-5 personality theory.
- You will know what the ‘high’ and ‘low’ scores on the five dimensions imply, and which qualities are associated to each.
- You will have explored your ambitions and ideals using the 'Appreciative Inquiry' method, and know how to use your strengths and talents to pursue your goals.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Friday 16 May | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Communication and Collaboration
A PhD trajectory often involves many challenges and responsibilities. Effective communication is therefore crucial for both your professional success and your well-being at work. In this workshop, we focus on communication between you and your supervisor. After the workshop, you will have a better understanding of both your own communication style and that of your supervisor. This will enable you to improve communication between the two of you.
After this workshop
- Have an understanding of your own working and communication styles.
- You know more about different communication styles and the strengths and challenges of each style.
- You know more about different leadership styles and how best to deal with them.
- You understand which leadership style your supervisor has and how to adapt your communication accordingly.
- You will have practised with your personal learning goals to improve your communication skills.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Wednesday 28 May | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
As a PhD candidate, you often work independently on your research and writing. At the same time, you work with other PhD candidates and scientists from different disciplines on joint research activities. Developing good collaboration skills is essential for both professional success and well-being in your career. After this workshop, you will have a better understanding of group dynamics and your own team role preferences. This will help you make your collaborations both more enjoyable and productive.
After this workshop
- You are familiar with different theories on team roles, including the 9 roles of the Belbin team role theory.
- You know the strengths and potential pitfalls of the different team roles.
- You understand your own team role preference(s) and know how to make the most of them.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Tuesday 10 June | 13.30-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
During your PhD research, you will often come into contact with people from different cultures. Intercultural skills are therefore essential to working successfully in an international environment such as the university. After this workshop, you will be more aware of your own cultural patterns and how these can influence communication with people from other cultures. This will allow you to fine-tune your communication and avoid misunderstandings, making future intercultural interactions both more pleasant and effective.
After this workshop
- You understand how cultural patterns can influence how we think, feel and act.
- You can use Erin Meyer's Culture Map to explain and resolve miscommunication.
- You are familiar with the eight dimensions of communication.
- You have an understanding of your own patterns of preference.
- You have gained knowledge about alternative styles and how to approach people with different styles.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- Friday 6 June | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
During your PhD trajectory, you will discover that disagreements over divergent ideas and interests are inevitable, normal and even healthy. Everyone handles this differently: some prefer to avoid confrontations, while others seek them out. It is valuable to know what influencing and conflict styles you can use. This workshop introduces you to different styles and strengthens your interpersonal communication.
After this workshop
- You know what influencing styles there are, what your favourite styles are and how to articulate yourself.
- You have knowledge of the Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument and the 5 different conflict styles.
- You know which conflict style you prefer and when to use which style most effectively.
For whom
- PhD candidates of all graduate schools, regardless of your type of contract or the year of your PhD-project.
- Postdocs and temporary teachers from all faculties, regardless of your type of contract.
Trainer
Rutger-Jan Scholtens
Language
All workshops for PhD candidates are in English.
Dates and practical information
- 16 April | 13:00-17:00 | Administration Building 0.33A (EN) - Register for this workshop via this link.
- Friday 23 May | 13.00-17.00 | Administration Building, 0.33F
Free of charge. Certificate of attendance available upon request.
Register
Register for a workshop via this link (form opens in new window).
Career Orientation
Join a career orientation workshop and prepare yourself in the best possible way for the start of your career, both inside and outside academia. Choose from topics such as self-analysis, networking and salary negotiation. Broaden your horizons, discover what steps you can take and start your career with more confidence.
Go to Career Services' career orientation workshopsWell-being
Discover workshops that will help you develop skills to enhance your well-being. These workshops are offered by Student Well-being and are also open to all PhD candidates at Utrecht University.
Go to the Student Well-being workshops