This newsletter provides an overview of all upcoming activities, either organized specifically for postdocs or for postdocs and PhD students combined, 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. A postdoctoral position: what next?

What to do after your postdoctoral position? Are you at this point of deciding whether to go ahead with academia or switch to a non-academic career? Great news: on December 13 an inspiring session will take place with a specific focus on postdoctoral research and possible career paths. This event consists of 4 testimonials, followed by a panel session.The programme is varied in the sense that both postdoc holders who pursued a non-academic career and an academic career will take the floor. They will tell you their personal story: Why did they do a postdoctoral position? How does this fit into their current career? Which obstacles did they encounter? What would they do differently now? Are they still happy with their choices? After the testimonials, we will exchange opinions on specific statements during a panel session. Finally, a sandwich lunch will be provided during which you'll get the opportunity to network. The detailed programme can be found on our website and you can register here from September 12 until November 24, 2024.

2. Research Data Management - RDM training calendar 2024-2025 available

From planning to wrapping up, in our RDM trainings you will learn how to manage your research data adequately in each phase of your research project. Get a guided tour through the Data Management Plan (DMP), discover your inner neat freak during our data cleaning sessions, become a bodyguard for personal and confidential information during our data protection workshops, ... Find out which RDM skills you can still improve while browsing through our diverse training offer.

3. Big interview

Big interview is an online career platform with a focus on job interviews and resumes. The platform contains video lessons that give insight into common interview questions, types of interviews and interviewers, tips and tricks on nonverbal communication, and so on. Above all, you will get the chance to prepare yourself by means of mock interviews. Personalised feedback on your mock interview answers will be given thanks to the AI feedback tool. Finally, you can build your personal resume by an online creator tool and you can scan your resume in order to receive feedback afterwards. Good news: it is free if you sign up with your Hasselt University e-mail address! Create your account here. Detailed information can be found on our website.

4. From PhD to SME 2024-2025

Twelve (post)doctoral researchers are given the unique opportunity to learn more about how SMEs are run and will find out how to put this knowledge immediately into practice during the From PhD to SME trajectory, which is a joint effort of the doctoral schools and VOKA. The aim of 'From PhD to SME' is to build bridges between the world of research and small and medium-sized enterprises and to let you gain insights into your own strengths and interests to see how they match with the expectations and values of a business. Find out everything about the programme here and register for the trajectory until September 29, 2024.

5. Wellbeing inside-out

A PhD journey takes time, patience and sustained effort: it's a marathon rather than a sprint. You have to keep many balls in the air to reach the finish line. This can sometimes be stressful. In addition, it can also affect your wellbeing. Therefore, the doctoral schools join forces with the HR Department for ‘Wellbeing inside-out’ on October 10 & 11, 2024. This two-day initiative is filled with lots of sessions that help to increase your confidence, resilience and that bring you in contact with fellow Hasselt University colleagues and researchers. The detailed programme, as well as the registration links, can be found here.

Details & registration

1. Collaborating successfully with others (all DS)

Takes place on 01/10/24 - 09:30-16:30
Registration possible until 15/09/24

2. Real creativity - a practical approach to problem solving (all DS)

Takes place on 02 & 03/10/24 - 09:30-16:30
Registration possible until 15/09/24

3. Bullet journaling as a tool for planning my research (all DS)

Takes place on 07/10/24 - 14:00-16:00
Registration possible until 15/09/24

4. Wellbeing inside-out: Researcher's wellbeing & speeddate (all DS)

Takes place on 10/10/24 - info supportive services (09:30-10:30) & speeddate (11:00-12:00)
Registration possible until 25/09/24

5. Wellbeing inside-out: How to be more confident (all DS)

Takes place (digitally) on 11/10/24 - 09:30-12:30
Registration possible until 25/09/24

6. Stress and resilience for researchers (all DS)

Takes place on 15/10 & 12/11/24 - 13:00-17:00
Registration possible until 15/09/24

7. Building effective habits (all DS)

Takes place on 16/10/24 - 13:00-17:00
Registration possible until 15/09/24

8. Turning science communication inside-out (all DS)

Takes place on 17/10/24 - 09:30-12:30
Registration possible until 20/09/24

9. Hack your brain: Unlocking your true potential and bringing your best performance (all DS)

Takes place on 21/10 (09:30-16:30) & 22/10/24 (09:30-16:00)
Registration possible until 16/09/24

10. Getting your research to the media (all DS)

Takes place on 23/10/24 - 09:30-16:30
Registration possible until 22/09/24

11. Public speaking & pitching: Bringing a clear story (all DS)

Takes place on 28 & 29/10 (10:00-15:30) & 30/10/24 (14:00-17:00)
Registration possible until 20/09/24

12. Schrijven voor niet-vakgenoten en pers (populairwetenschappelijk schrijven) (all DS) (Dutch)

Takes place (hybrid) on 15 & 22/11/24 - 09:30-17:00
Registration possible until 15/10/24

13. Lecture 'Artificial Intelligence' organized as part of PhD Reflect & Connect (all DS)

Takes place on 26/11/24 - 15:30-18:00
Registration possible until 27/10/24

14. Project management trajectory for postdocs (all DS)

Takes place on 27/11, 04/12 & 11/12/24 - 09:00-17:00
Registration possible until 27/10/24

15. Getting started with Qualtrics: Tips and tricks on collecting experimental and survey-data with Qualtrics (all DS)

Takes place on 29/11/24 - 13:00-17:00
Registration possible until 03/11/24

16. Speak your mind: Learn how to become more assertive (all DS)

Takes place on 09 & 16/12/24 - 09:30-16:30
Registration possible until 17/11/24

17. Engaging with policy makers (all DS)

Takes place on 10/12/24 - 13:00-16:00
Registration possible until 11/11/24

18. ChatGPT as a creative partner for science communication (all DS)

Takes place on 12/12/24 - 09:30-12:30
Registration possible until 24/11/24

Details & registration

1. Meet the jury seminar 'How we teach machines to read, write and draw' (all DS)

Takes place on 19/09/24 - 15:00-17:00
Registration possible until 14/09/24

2. Meet the jury seminar 'From ideas to impact: a new paradigm for digital device innovation' (all DS)

Takes place on 24/09/24 - 15:00-16:00
Registration is required

3. Meet the jury seminar 'The use and design of timber-concrete composite bridges' (all DS)

Takes place on 25/09/24 - 10:00-11:00
Registration is required

4. Conference "Functional materials engineering" (DS ST)

Takes place on 30/09-03/10/24 - 09:00-17:00
Registration is required

5. Value proposition: Show the benefit of your research! (all DS)

Takes place on 07/10/24 - 09:00-13:00
Registration possible until 15/09/24

6. How to succeed in academic publishing, with visuals (all DS)

Takes place on 09/10/24 - 09:00-17:00
Registration possible until 15/09/24

7. Critical junior scholar network (DS BSH)

Takes place on 11/10/24 - 10:00-13:00
Registration is required

8. Infosession on intellectual property rights (DS ST)

Takes place on 05/11/24 - 09:00-12:00
Registration possible until 07/10/24

9. Show, don’t tell: Creating visuals about your research (all DS)

Takes place on 14 & 21/11/24 - 09:00-16:30
Registration possible until 14/10/24

10. Effective coaching for internship supervisors (DS HLS)

Takes place on 14/11/24 - 13:00-15:30
Registration possible until 24/10/24

11. Effective coaching for internship supervisors (DS HLS)

Takes place on 21/11/24 - 13:00-15:30
Registration possible until 30/10/24

12. Investment law doctoral research colloquium (DS BSH)

Takes place on 29/11/24
Registration possible until 30/09/24

13. Valorisation academy (all DS)

Takes place in academic year 2024-2025
Registration is required

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

Takes place online (permanently accessible)

Details & registration

1. The researchpreneurship mindset bootcamp (all DS)

Takes place on 04-06/10/24
Registration possible until 15/09/24

2. Wellbeing inside-out: Start to craft - building a meaningful job through job crafting (all DS)

Takes place on 10/10/24 - 15:00-16:30
Registration possible until 25/09/24

3. From PhD to SME (all DS)

Takes place from 14/10/24 - 27/05/25 - 09:00-12:00
Registration possible until 29/09/24

4. Demonstrating your competences in your CV, LinkedIn programme & cover letter to convince your future employer (all DS)

Takes place on 14/11 (workshop: 09:30-16:30) & 17/12/24 (coaching online: 30 min per person)
Registration possible until 13/10/24

5. Ready for take-off: Establishing a good basis for PhD supervision (all DS)

Takes place on 03/12/24 - 10:00-16:00
Registration possible until 05/11/24

6. A postdoctoral position: what next? (all DS)

Takes place on 13/12/24 - 10:00-12:30
Registration possible until 24/11/24

7. 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.

ANS in actie! Kwaliteitsvol & digitaal evalueren kan je leren (Dutch) - 15/10/24 - 14:00-16:00
Start to teach (Dutch) - 17/10, 07 & 21/11, 05/12/24 - 14:00-16:00
GDPR bij bachelor- en masterproeven (Dutch) - 24/10/24 - 10:00-11:30
Activate & engage: Hands-on strategies for dynamic higher education - 14/11/24 - 10:00-12:00
Your voice matters. Een gezond en goed stemgebruik in het onderwijs (Dutch) - 18/11/24 - 14:00-16:00
GDPR in bachelor's and master's theses - 28/11/24 - 10:00-11:30
Hoe maak je een groepswerk succesvol (Dutch) - 03/12/24 - 14:00-16:00
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

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.

Spring clean during summer! (digitally) - at your own pace

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) - 09/12/24 - 10:00-17:00

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.

Student take-off - 02/10/24 - 16:00-23:00
Pitch please launch week: wij komen naar jou! - 07/10/24 - 08:00-12:00
Pitck please inspiratiecafé - 24/10/24 - 18:30-21:30

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)