🎄 As the holiday season approaches, let’s take a moment to celebrate the curiosity and dedication that drive us forward. May your days be filled with joy, your heart with hope, and your mind with new ideas. Wishing you a holiday season as bright as your future and a New Year filled with endless possibilities.

This newsletter provides an overview of all upcoming activities for PhD students organized by the doctoral schools and links to other potentially interesting events or information.

More details on, and registration links for, upcoming activities are available on the website of the doctoral schools. When you enrol for a doctoral school activity, make sure to take our cancellation & no-show policy into account. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at all times on doctoralschools@uhasselt.be.

1. PhD Welcome

UHasselt welcomes you! At Hasselt University, we aspire to create a stimulating environment for PhD researchers and provide comprehensive guidance throughout your entire PhD journey. With this in mind, we warmly welcome all starting PhD students to join us at our 'PhD Welcome' event. This half-day session will take place on March 11, 2025, and will shed light on doing a PhD at Hasselt University, the doctoral schools, well-being, and so on. In doing so, we hope to provide answers to possible questions that could pop up at the beginning of your PhD trajectory. We will also give the floor to several experienced PhD researchers who will share the pitfalls and successes of their research careers.

Registration is possible until February 24, 2025. Please complete the expectation question when registering for the event to ensure you receive the information you need for a successful start at the PhD Welcome session.

2. CV analysis training

As part of the interuniversity Job Market for Young Researchers (SAVE THE DATE: 27 March 2025, Flanders Expo Ghent), a CV analysis training course is organised. Professionals will share key tips on how to successfully demonstrate one’s unique blend of PhD competences and experience. The aim of the 3 training sessions, to be offered online from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM on 4 February, 18 February and 4 March 2025, is for participants to build confidence in their CV writing ability to the extent that they are able to review not only their own CV, but also the CVs of their peers. The training has an exclusive focus on the non-academic CV, and is offered in English. Participants are expected to review a small number of CVs of their peers as part of the CV analysis which is offered online on 13 March 2025 (between 12 PM and 6 PM) in the run-up to the live Job Market for Young Researchers. Interested? Send your CV and a short motivation statement to participate in this training to dr. Katrien Daemen-de Gelder (katrien.degelder@UGent.be) by 30 January 2025 at the latest. Places are limited, so make sure to secure your spot!

3. Individual career coaching

A PhD degree opens up a wide range of avenues for challenging and exciting job opportunities. Pursuing a career in academia is only one of the options. In a climate of innovation and growth, the qualities of young researchers are an excellent match to the needs of the labour market. Sometimes it is difficult, however, to find the right match on your own. In order to support PhD students and postdocs in their career development, individual career coaching is offered – through the doctoral schools, but by external coaches.

4. Dutch language course

Hasselt University, in collaboration with the Provincial centre for adult education Hasselt (PCVO), offers an engaging Dutch language course designed for international students, PhD candidates, and guests. This beginner’s course (level A1) equips participants with the essentials for everyday conversations, focusing on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The program provides a dynamic learning experience through two weekly sessions: one held online and the other on campus. The course runs from Monday, 17 February 2025 to Wednesday, 28 May 2025, with classes every Monday (on campus) and Wednesday (online) evening from 18:30 to 21:30. The venue will be confirmed prior to the start (room at Campus Hasselt - Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt). Registration is open, and interested participants are encouraged to contact the Civic Integration Office by arranging an appointment through this form. Please indicate you are a UHasselt student and ensure you are physically present in Belgium for the appointment. The regular price for the course is €120, but UHasselt sponsors €60 per student. In exchange, UHasselt requires a minimum attendance rate of 80%. PhD students can request a refund via doctoralschools@uhasselt.be. For further details, contact laurien.stuvers@uhasselt.be. Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in Dutch and enhance your experience at Hasselt University!

Details & registration

1. Academic English (DS BSH)

Takes place on 14, 21 & 28/02 & 07/03/25 - 09:00-12:00
Registration possible until 19/01/25

2. Academic English (DS HLS)

Takes place on 14, 21 & 28/02 & 07/03/25 - 13:00-16:00
Registration possible until 19/01/25

3. Speak your mind: learn how to become more assertive

Takes place on 17/03 & 24/03 (09:30-13:00) and 14/04/25 (09:30-12:00)
Registration possible until 24/02/25

4. Stress and resilience for researchers

Takes place on 25/03 & 22/04/25 - 13:00-17:00
Registration possible until 26/02/25

5. AI as a creative partner for science communication

Takes place on 28/03/25 - 09:30-12:30
Registration possible until 26/02/25

Details & registration

1. Meet the jury seminar: 'From Managing NORM to Social Norms: In the Light of Sustainability'

Takes place on 17/01/25 - 12:30-14:00
Registration is required

2. Effective coaching for internship supervisors (DS HLS)

Takes place on 23/01/25 - 13:00-15:30
Registration possible until 05/01/25

3. Research day (DS BSH)

Takes place on 31/01/25 - 12:30-16:00
Registration possible until 13/01/25

4. Start session teaching professionalization of the faculty (DS HLS)

Takes place on 07/02/25 - 09:00-11:00
Registration possible until 17/01/25

5. Research ethics (DS HLS)

Takes place on 13/03/25 - 10:00-12:00
Registration possible until 12/02/25

6. Mind the GAP (Good Academic Practices) (all DS)

Takes place online (permanently accessible)

Details & registration

1. Big interview: online training platform (all DS)

Continuous offer
Registration is required

2. Individual career coaching (all DS)

Continuous offer
Application is required

The doctoral schools partner with several other departments and organisations. Below is an overview of their upcoming activities. For more information regarding their course offer and acknowledgement in your doctoral school portfolio, please consult this webpage.

1. Education department

Most modules on education are organized in a demand-driven way which means that instructors/professors can 'order' a tailor-made workshop on a specific topic for a specific group of interested people. However, they also have a limited open course offer. These open courses can be found online.

First aid for education @UHasselt (digitally) - permanently accessible
Start to teach (Dutch) - 18/02, 11 & 25 & 28/03/25 - 14:00-16:00
Start to teach - 20/02, 13 & 27/03, 24/04/25 - 10:00-12:00
Inclusief Onderwijs: Begin bij jezelf als Docent - 27/02/25 - 10:00-12:00
Effective feedback: how to do it and how to teach it? - 17/03/25 - 14:00-16:00
GDPR bij bachelor- en masterproeven - 18/03/25 - 14:00-15:30
ANS in actie! Kwaliteitsvol & digitaal evalueren kan je leren - 20/03/25 - 14:00-16:00
OER voor coördinerend verantwoordelijken - 25/03/25 - 13:00-14:30

2. Research data management (RDM)

All UHasselt researchers are expected to adhere to the UHasselt RDM policy plan and manage their data efficiently and with integrity. The RDM team can give you advice on data management planning, policies, best practices, tools, etc. You can contact them directly with your questions and/or follow one or more of their trainings. For their course offer, more information and registration, see their training calendar.

Into the DMP - 20/03/25 - 10:00-12:00
DMP writing session - 20/03/25 - 13:00-15:00
Into the DMP - 29/04/25 - 10:00-12:00
DMP writing session - 29/04/25 - 13:00-15:00
Wrapping up your research project - 15/05/25 - 10:00-12:00

3. HR Department

Hasselt University encourages personal growth and development among its staff by offering a wide range of training courses and career support. This offer is also open to all PhD researchers and postdoctoral researchers.

4. School of Expert Education (SEE)

Training for professionals, built on academic expertise with the aim of creating a unique learning environment to refine and broaden your expertise. You can find their course offer here (courses are mostly in Dutch).

5. Flanders’ training network for methodology and statistics (FLAMES)

Courses on statistics and methodology, which take place throughout the academic year at all Flemish universities. The FLAMES summer school and courses organized at Hasselt University are listed in this newsletter; the others can be found on the FLAMES website.

Writing up your findings - the principles of getting your work published (digitally) - 27/01/25 - 10:00-17:00
Introduction to R (digitally) - 07-24/03/25 - 09:00-12:00

6. Interuniversity course offer for young researchers

The doctoral schools of Hasselt University partner with the other four Flemish universities which results in an interuniversity course offer open for young researchers of the five partner universities.

7. EURECA-PRO

The EURECA-PRO Alliance consists of 9 partners who joined forces to enable students, researchers and staff to study, teach and research in the field of responsible consumption and production with the long-term goal of a joined virtual and integrated European campus until 2040. They also organize regular activities for (young) researchers.

8. Pitch Please

Pitch Please wil jongeren inspireren, informeren, uitdagen en ondersteunen om hun ondernemende kwaliteiten aan te scherpen. Een overzicht van de Pitch Please activiteiten kan je online terugvinden.

Infosessie: Hoe kom ik op een goed idee? - 19/02/25 - 19:00-21:30
Matchmaking Monday - 24/02/25 - 19:00-21:30
Starten als vrij beroeper - 19/03/25 - 19:00-21:30

9. Flanders AI Academy (VAIA)

Courses and trainings on artificial intelligence for professionals and researchers in Flanders which take place throughout the academic year. In this newsletter only activities and trainings specifically organised or interesting for PhD students/postdocs are listed; the others can be found on the VAIA website.

10. Flemish Supercomputer Centre (VSC)