WASS Days 2011
6, 7 and 8 October, 2011
During your PhD process you work on in-depth knowledge and corresponding skills in your specific research area. Complying with the education requirements of the graduate school and focusing on your research are relatively solitary activities.
Besides these solitary activities, there are more aspects that contribute to a successful PhD process, such as; feel member of a community, engage in social activities with colleagues, discuss the pitfalls of a PhD process with experts, anticipate on your career. These are just a number of aspects that deserve attention during the PhD process, but that are normally not addressed within the education programmes of graduate schools. For that reason, WASS feels the need to pay attention to these aspects by organising the WASS Days.
First of all, the WASS Days is a social event: it is important and useful to meet with other PhD colleagues within the Graduate School. You can inspire each other and it can save you a lot of time if you discuss practical issues with colleagues that are more experienced. During the WASS Days you can meet with PhD candidates from different chair groups and in different phases of their PhD. Various social activities are organised to get to know your colleagues.
Secondly, the WASS Days is a network event: Networking is an important tool for your career. It is about being interested in other people and their work and about finding common ground and seeing where you can help each other. The focus of the WASS Days is therefore on networking. A workshop ‘Networking for PhD candidates’ is offered discussing the do’s and don’ts of networking in an academic setting and the skills of networking are practiced. Furthermore, a network session with WASS fellows is organised in which they explain more about their academic network and teach you their tips and tricks.
Thirdly, the WASS Days focus on progress and pitfalls of the PhD process. A workshop is offered focusing on ‘how to overcome pitfalls’. You will meet fellows and graduated PhDs that will reflect on their PhD process and share their lessons learnt with you.