New PhD-training programme started at ISGA: ‘We want PhD-candidates to thrive’
Lydie Cabane and Seda Gürkan, respectively PhD-coordinator and Assistant Professor at ISGA, are starting a new programme to support and train ISGA PhD-candidates. They tell us more about the programme: ‘We aim to facilitate a successful completion of PhD trajectories.’
Why is PhD training so important and what are the goals of these trainings?
Lydie Cabane: ‘Receiving training is essential for PhD-candidates to develop their skills to complete their research projects, learn new methods and also learning ‘soft-skills’ to prepare for the job market after their PhD trajectory.
Another side-effect, but equally important goal, is community-building: we want PhD-candidates to feel as if they are part of a community. Learning from each other and having a peer network is correlated to academic success, which means to not only completing your PhD trajectory in due time, but also thriving with your PhD.’
Which trainings do PhD-candidates need to follow order to obtain a doctorate at Leiden University?
‘At Leiden University, internal PhD-candidates and contract PhD-candidates (beurspromovendi) are required to complete 140 hours of academic training and 140 hours of transferable skills training. External, self-funded PhD-candidates must complete all mandatory trainings (i.e. the University’s introductory PhD course and FGGA’s data management plan and scientific conduct courses.
At ISGA, we have two mandatory activities: a PhD seminar and participation within the research groups. In addition to these mandatory activities, ISGA offers a range of methods training courses to our PhD-candidates, both internal and external.’
You jointly developed PhD training programme a new PhD programme. Can you explain what the programme entails?
Lydie: ‘The core activity is a monthly seminar, in which PhD-candidates present their work to each other. Participation within the different research groups at ISGA is also critical to learn more about your field.'
Seda adds: 'Another key component of the programme at ISGA is a research methods course, which I teach. These courses aim to deepen the candidate’s critical thinking and personal reflections on the scientific processes.
These courses constitute an essential toolbox for PhD candidates and range from key trainings such as “Mastering Research Design”, “Dealing with Causality” to more specific ones such as “Getting it Published”.'
Lydie: 'We also facilitate an International Relations (IR) reading group, led by Tom Buitelaar, and a few other courses. It is also worth mentioning that we are developing a Doctoral Interdisciplinary Methods Training programme, as part of the Una Europe alliance.’
When does the new training programme start and when can PhD-candidates register?
Seda: ‘We have already started. All ISGA PhD-candidates are welcome to participate. We regularly communicate information to our PhD-candidates via a mailing list and conversely, they can also reach out to us via email.
Our upcoming PhD training ‘Case study and Comparative Methods’ is set to take place on 28 May. This training is focused primarily on ISGA PhD-candidates, but there are limited spaces available for candidates of other faculties on a first-come-first-served basis.’
More information about the training ‘Case Study and Comparative Methods’ can be found here.
How do ISGA, the faculty and the University further support PhD-candidates?
Lydie: ‘The first support always comes from the supervisors. As a PhD coordinator, I provide support through the organisation of activities, but I’m also always available for an informal chat. We have some financial support for training and research activities. And we should not forget that a lot of support is also provided by the FGGA Graduate School and the university. For example, we have a PhD psychologist and PhD deans.’
Seda adds: ‘The doctoral courses I teach intend to support PhD-candidates in drafting their research project. The idea is to give PhD-candidates the essentials, but at the same time, closely connect these fundamental research skills to their dissertation. In this way, we aim to facilitate the successful completion of doctoral studies. Through these support mechanisms and trainings, we want to say to PhDs: we are here to help you!’
Collaboration with the Graduate School
Lydie Cabane and Seda Gürkan have regular graduate school meetings, and the scientific directors also regularly discuss doctoral matters in their meetings. The PhD Deans are appointed by the graduate school and play an essential role in working together for a thriving environment for PhDs. PhD Deans help the graduate school with PhD policy, and they also assess PhDs’ yearly progress and well-being – one is appointed by ISGA for BSK, and reversely, the PhD Dean for ISGA comes from Public Administration as being external to one institute puts them in a better position to discuss with supervisors if need be (appointments of PhD Deans are on-going).