1. How to get started?

As a doctoral candidate at the University of Antwerp you are required to complete a doctoral study program (DSP), i.e. courses and other activities for a total of 30 points (≠ ECTS)

The doctoral study program is not a structured (continued) academic education. You have to choose yourself, with the help of your supervisor, how you will compose your doctoral study program, which activities you will undertake. You choose when, following your own time schedule. In some faculties there are some obligatory activities (as can be read in the complementary rules and regulations, see 'rights and duties', only in dutch).

To get started, you need a clear view of yourself. Figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are, using the competence profile of the Antwerp Doctoral School.


2. Competence profile: analyse yourself!

The competence profile shows different competences. You need these competences to complete your PhD trajectory succesfully . They are also important for your further career. Not only in an academic context, also in other sectors.

As you can see in the table below, the competences are grouped in categories. The first tree categories are essentielly focussed on research. The four following categories contain competences that are usefull in an academic context as well as in other sectors.

Take a look at the table and determine, together with your supervisor, which are the first competences you will work on. By way of example, you find a column with possible activities. These are practical examples of how you can sharpen the competence. It might also be usefull to take a look at the example packages below.



Category

Competences

Example Activities and courses

A. Research skills and techniques

You think critically and you introduce innovative ideas

ADS-course “scientific reasoning”; course “systematic reviewing”.

You use relevant research methodologies and instruments for your research objectives, such as ICT, systems for the acquisition and collation of information and statistical analysing techniques

ADS-courses biostatistics; e-sources; Excel; Word; Matlab. Infosessions databases (bv Westlaw); course or seminar methodology; infosession library; general course research methodology; specialised summer schools; research stays at other institutions; training in research skills.

You know how to critically analyse and evaluate your own findings and those of others

Review of manuscripts or articles; evaluation of Bachelar/Master thesis; member of a jury; doctoral seminar (with feedback of colleagues); course Scoring of research.

B. Adapting to research environment

You adapt yourself to the research and the broader work environment, e.g. by participating in structures and councils within the research institution

Member faculty board or other councils and committees; "mentoraat"; specific course or infosession; business management course.

You participate in project funding and research evaluation systems

Member redactional board of a scientific magazine; Infosession on project funding.

You apply deontological research rules and regulations in a perdurable way, e.g. with regards to copyright, privacy, professional secrecy, good research practices, ...

Course copyright; infosession interface service of the University of Antwerp.

You understand the process of academic or commercial exploitation of research results

ADS-course business management; Course authors contracts; active participation in commercial exploitation; general course on economic principles and accounting

C.  Research management

You use the available time efficiently, set out clear priorities and formulate clear objectives when organising an activity or effectuating a research project.

ADS-course Project and Time management. Organisation of a congress or another scientific activity; supervision bachelor/master thesis; writing a project proposal.

You document research results in a relevant way

Course Endnote, course Reference Manager, course Word for long texts

D. Personal effectiveness

You take initiatives, independently or in group, and you know how to finalise them with succes

Winning of awards; writing articles.

 

Even under pressure and in tense situations, you react in a result oriented way

Course Stress management

E. Communication skills

You communicate findings clearly to a specialised public of experts or peers

ADS-courses Scientific reasoning, Academic writing, Academic English, Powerpoint and general language courses. Presentation on doctoral seminar or scientific congress; poster presentation; reporting study day.

You communicate findings clearly to a non specialised public

ADS-course Applied communication; teaching in bachelor/master; participating in "Kinderuniversiteit" or "Wetenschapsweek"; publication for a broad public; opinion or interview for different media; webmaster (website for experts or non specialised public); ECHO training of the University of Antwerp.

F. Networking and teamworking

You are capable of working together in or outside the own research group and to understand the dynamics of the group

ADS-course leadership and teamworking. Representative AAP/BAP; member Faculty board; member VABAP. Course Negotiation; active participation in organisation of congresses or symposia

You demonstrate international mobility

Research stay abroad; International congresses.

You succeed in developing and maintaining national and international networks

Board member of a scientific association; international research stay (congress, presentation, research,..).

G. Career management

You identify your own training needs

Internship in een non academic work environment.

 

You identify career goals and, taking them into account, you compose your CV 

Participation in “job days” (presentation, organisation); interactive seminar with doctores from outside academia.

You convert your research skills into useful skills in a non academic work environment

Specific courses or infosessions.

You dispose of a relevant CV or portfolio and you can apply sollicitation techniques 

ADS-course "sollicitatietechnieken"; ADS-workshop ‘Pimp je CV!’.


(This Competence Profile is bases on the Joint Skills Statement, developed by Vitae in the United Kingdom and adapted for PhD students at the University of Antwerp.)


4. Courses Antwerp Doctoral School

You know which competences you want to acquire or to improve and which activities you want to undertake to achieve these goals... Maybe you want to follow some courses?

The Antwerp Doctoral School offers you FREE participation for the ADS courses, that will help sharpen your competences. They are developped especially for doctoral candidates, by specialised companies. Moreover participation in these courses is the perfect way to get to know your colleagues.

In the second half of 2012, the Antwerp Doctoral School will offer the following courses:  Acces, Writing academic papers, Giving presentations in English,  English for communicating effectively in academic contexts, E-sources, Mindmapping.

You can also follow Bachelor and Master courses for your Doctoral Study Program. read more

 

Click on the ADS-course of your choice for more info/to register!

To avoid surprises, read these rules before registering!


1.

Research skills and techniques

 

Scientific Reasoning and Reporting

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E-sources for PhD-students

   

MS Excel(intermediate)

MS Excel (charts and pivot tables)

  

MS Excel (functions and statistics)

MS Access - basics

 

Biostatistics for PhD students

 

Matlab: introduction and applications


 

2.

Research environment

 

new courses will be anounced


 

3.

Research management

 

MS Word (intermediate + long documents)

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Mindmapping

 

4.

Personal Effectiveness

new courses will be anounced


 

5.

Communication skills

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Giving presentations in English (Linguapolis)

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Writing academic papers in English (Linguapolis)

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English for communicating effectively in academic contexts (New!)

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Academic Presentation Skills (Kris Van de Poel)

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Academic writing (Kris Van de Poel)  

 

Applied communication skills for PhDstudents: assertivity - presenting - meetings - negotiating 

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MS PowerPoint

 

6.

Networking and teamwork

 

Leaderschip and teamwork

 

7.

Career management


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PhD Career Focus. (INTERUNIVERSITY)


5. Evaluation Doctoral Study Program

At the end of your PhD trajectory you are expected to have completed activities for at least 30 points ( ECTS). Your yearly progress is monitored by the Progress reporting-procedure. This procedure is explained in the section 'administration'.

Points tables for each faculty/institute:

 For more details please check the faculty rules and the information on the forms.


 
Inhoudsverantwoordelijke(n) : kim.huyge kris.declerck kristien.wijffels