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Mission statement
The mission of the doctoral schools is to support PhD candidates and postdocs in becoming excellent internationally oriented research professionals who are broadly employable, both in and outside the academic sector.
The doctoral schools encourage junior researchers to take their career into their own hands and provide them with opportunities to work on their professional and personal development. Training, coaching, online tools and career development resources are offered, using the competency overview for PhD holders as a guideline. Furthermore, the doctoral schools aim to increase the social cohesion between junior researchers, strengthen their international orientation and provide a clear structure to monitor the quality of the PhD trajectory.
Doctoral School Council
The Doctoral School Council decides on the management and use of the Doctoral School resources, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
The Doctoral School Council approves the yearly planning of the Doctoral School activities.
The Doctoral School Council is responsible for the approval of the reporting of the Doctoral School activities to the Flemish Government, the approval of the five-yearly evaluation performed at the request of the Flemish government, and the approval of the Doctoral School policy plan.
The Doctoral School Council advises on Doctoral School related subjects, including but not limited to
- the Doctoral School policy plan and the implementation thereof,
- the protocols necessary for the optimal functioning of the Doctoral Schools (e.g. cancellation & no-show policy),
- PhD student surveys for the purpose of quality assurance of the Doctoral Schools’ functioning,
- alumni activities for Hasselt University PhD holders
- the implementation and follow-up of different calls for financing (e.g. call for international & intersectoral mobility, call for bottom-up activities),
- the alignment of Hasselt University policy with Flemish and international Doctoral School trends.
Composition of the Doctoral School Council
Name | Function | Role in Doctoral School Council |
|---|---|---|
Ken HAENEN | Vice Rector Research Hasselt University | Chair |
Elke Hermans | Vice Rector Education Hasselt University | Vice-Chair |
Jean-Michel RIGO | Director Doctoral School Health and Life Sciences | Member |
Wim DEFERME | Director Doctoral School Sciences and Technology | Member |
Sandra STREUKENS | Director Doctoral School Behavioral Sciences and Humanities | Member |
Veerle SOMERS | Dean Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences | Member |
Raf MEESEN | Dean Rehabilitation Sciences | Member |
Jan COLPAERT | Dean Faculty of Sciences | Member |
Ronald THOELEN | Dean Faculty of Engineering Technology | Member |
Stefan DEVOLDERE | Dean Faculty of Architecture and Arts | Member |
Piet PAUWELS | Dean Faculty of Business Economics | Member |
Petra FOUBERT | Dean Faculty of Law | Member |
Katrien Struyven | Associate Professor | ZAP representative Schools |
Seppe CROONEN | PhD Assistant | PhD representative |
Maarten WIJNANTS | Postdoc | Postdoc representative |
Stefanie KERKHOFS | Coordinator PhD and Responsible Research & Innovation | Advisory vote |
PhD Welcome
Twice a year, a 'PhD Welcome' session is organized. The next edition will take place on November 08, 2024. Please mark this date already in your agenda.
As the title suggests, this day is meant to welcome recently started PhD students. During this event, you'll have the opportunity to ask your burning questions about doing a PhD at Hasselt University, the doctoral schools, the minimal requirements, the course offer and so on. At the same time, you’ll get the opportunity to connect with fellow PhD students and researchers, to exchange experiences and to continue your doctoral adventure with the right state of mind.
In order to prepare for the interactive morning session, please take some time to watch a series of essential videos. These will provide key information on:
- What you need to know when you start your PhD
- My doctoral file (= electronic tool to monitor the doctoral process)
- Professional & personal development (training, course offer, mobility)
- Doctoral school portfolio (= instructions on how to the digital document on google drive to generate an overview of your professional and personal development)
- Minimal requirements (specific for your doctoral school and discipline)
- Career development
- Physical and mental support for young researchers
The videos and the respective links are available here. Watching these videos ahead of time will help you come well prepared with any questions and/or concerns you might have. The information in the videos will not be repeated during the PhD Welcome.
Do you still have questions after watching the videos and diving into the specific minimal requirements? We will be happy to answer your questions on these topics during the PhD Welcome, so we can tailor the PhD Welcome to your specific needs and concerns/expectations.
Where?
- Campus Diepenbeek, Building D, room H3 - 09:00-13:30
- We will be starting off as from 09:00 with welcome coffee and registration at the restaurant (room J30 right - campus Diepenbeek). The Q&A session and testimonials will start at 09:30 in H3. At the end of the sessions, lunch will be provided at the restaurant which will give you the opportunity to meet and talk to fellow PhD students.
Registration?
- Registrations are closed.
- Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).
Meet the Doctoral Schools team
Dr Kirsten Braem takes on the role of faculty liaison which means she is responsible for:
- The Doctoral Schools policy
- The discipline-specific course offer of the doctoral schools
- The Doctoral Schools requirements
Book your appointment here.
Rosanne Ceuppens is responsible for:
- The Doctoral Schools policy
- The generic course offer of the doctoral schools
- Career development of young researchers (in collaboration with career center)
- Internal trainings
Lia Van Hoef is responsible for:
- The Doctoral Schools policy
- Specific doctoral schools courses (generic, discipline-specific and career)
- The doctoral schools' mobility call
- Specific doctoral schools projects: PhDrinks, buddy trajectory, gender & diversity seminar, DS communication (newsletters, facebook,...)
Eva Rodiers provides:
- Administrative and logistic support regarding the doctoral schools
Clara Smolders provides:
- Administrative and logistic support regarding the doctoral schools, PhD’s and My Doctoral File
Questions?
Please use the following generic email addresses in case of questions related to:
- practical issues with respect to doctoral school courses (e.g., cancellation, problems with registration, ...): doctoralschools@uhasselt.be
- PhD regulations & procedures: phd@uhasselt.be
- joint PhDs: jointphd@uhasselt.be
If you want to request acknowledgement of a certain activity in your DS portfolio, please follow the instructions as described here. The email address to be used in this context is DSrequirements@uhasselt.be.
If the smooth course of the PhD trajectory or the collaboration between PhD student and supervisor is disturbed, both parties have the possibility to get in touch with the PhD ombuds by sending an email to PhD-Ombuds@uhasselt.be.