Presentation skills for FWO PhD fellowships - 2023

The UHasselt Directorate Research, Library and Internationalisation and doctoral schools offer a presentation skills workshop to applicants for FWO PhD fellowships for both fundamental research (FR) and strategic basic research (SB), in order to prepare them for their oral jury defense. It offers a hands-on methodology to prepare, practise and give powerful elevator pitches such as required for the FWO defense. The workshop given by Wim Coessens (The Works!) consists of a one-day plenary session (on campus) and a half-day practice session (on campus).

The plenary session covers the following topics:

• Characteristics of powerful research pitches: what they are for, what they should contain and what they shouldn't, and how they link to the written application;
• Considering your audience: what they want from you and how they will judge you;
• Preparing the pitch: defining your purpose and your key messages; researching and selecting the material; bringing logic and order to your thinking;
• Structuring the pitch: finding an appealing structure that puts maximum focus on the merits of your project, and applying powerful communication principles to grab (and keep) the attention of your audience;
• Making it visual: making slides and graphical abstracts that make your message stronger rather than distract from it;
• Delivering the pitch: speaking with impact and conviction, overcoming speaker stress and preparing for the Q&A.

The practice session gives participants the opportunity to try out their pitch in front of a small group of peers (max 6 participants), who will provide personalized feedback and suggestions for further development.

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• interpersonal competences:
  • presentation skills
  • oral communication
  • stakeholder awareness
• personal effectiveness:
  • self-confidence
  • self-development
  • stress management
    
    

For whom?

• master students and PhD students who are preparing an application for an FWO PhD fellowship for fundamental research (FR) or strategic basic research (SB)

When & where?

• For PhD fellowships – Fundamental research:
  Plenary session (on campus): August 22 & 23 (09:00 – 17:00) - room A4, campus Diepenbeek, Building D.
  Practice session (on campus):
  • August 24 (09:00 – 12:30) - room A4 OR
  • August 24 (13:30 – 17:00) - room A4 OR
  • August 28 (09:00 – 12:30) - room A4 OR
  • August 28 (13:30 – 17:00) - room A4 OR
  • August 29 (09:00 – 12:30) - room E139 OR
  • August 29 (13:30 – 17:00) - room E139
• For FWO PhD fellowships – Strategic basic research:
  Plenary session (on campus): August 22 (09:00 – 17:00) - room A54, campus Diepenbeek, Building D
  Practice session (on campus):
  • August 29 (09:00 – 12:30) - room A4 OR
  • August 30 (13:30 – 17:00) - room A54
• The plenary session starts at 09:00 (sharp!) and ends at 17:00. It includes two coffee breaks and a one-hour lunch break. You can bring your own lunch or lunch at the cafeteria.
• Practice sessions (max. 6 participants) run either from 09:00-12:30 or from 13:30-17:00.
• When registering, you will only be shown the moments that apply to your type of research, for which you will be asked to indicate your availability. You will be notified of the actual date at which you need to be present as soon as possible.

Registration?

• For PhD fellowships fundamental research
• For PhD fellowships strategic basic research
• Registration can be done
• Participants will receive official confirmation of their registration by email. This email will state the date of the plenary and the practice session and the practical details needed for attending.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'research management & communication skills' - workshop on communication skills
• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - one compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'scientific & generic communication' -  one course about scientific and generic communication