VLAG Educational Programme and Training and Supervision Plan


Summary

PhD candidates need to spent time on training and education activities during their PhD.

null

The four-year PhD programme largely consists of conducting research and writing a thesis (dissertation). Furthermore, 15% of the time is spent on training and education activities, which include participation in (international) courses, competence and skills training, seminars, conferences, and workshops. Focus of PhD training and education is the acquisition of the T-shaped Skills. For PhD candidates employed at WUR, a maximum of 10% of the time can be spent on teaching activities.

Requirements

The requirements of the educational programme for VLAG PhD candidates are as follows:

  • Discipline-specific activities: minimum 11 credits
  • General courses: minimum 6 credits
  • Assisting in teaching and supervision activities: maximum 4 credits (no minimum)
  • Other activities: minimum 8 credits
  • Total ≥ 30 credits

The study load is defined according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One ECTS credit is equivalent to a study load of 28 hours.

Training and Supervision Plan

The Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) is an instrument in which the contents of the educational programme, teaching duties, and supervision are formalised, providing statutory rights and obligations to the PhD candidate and the supervisor(s).

The TSP form, TSP content details, and the file to keep track of your TSP activities can be downloaded below:

TSP form

TSP content details

TSP Activity overview

All PhD candidates are obliged to submit the signed TSP form within 3 months after the start of the PhD project in Hora Finita (https://wur-educationsupport.screenstepslive.com/m/109566).

TSP contents

  1. A description of the educational programme of the PhD candidate. This part of the document should be seen as a declaration of intent and should be formulated upon consultation with the thesis supervisor.
  2. A description of the teaching activities of the PhD candidate. Teaching activities may consist of supervison of practical courses, tutorials, lecturing and supervision of undergraduates. For additional details, see VLAG TSP Content details and Compendium of WUR teaching rules, VLAG guidelines, best practices from VLAG community.
  3. An agreement concerning the supervision provided by thesis supervisor and co-supervisor(s).

Periodical update TSP

The TSP, especially the educational programme part, should be discussed with the supervisors every year during the Progress & Development (P&D) meeting. Halfway through your project, we will ask you to send us an update of your TSP.

Training budget

Once the TSP has been approved, the PhD candidate is entitled to a training and education  budget of €4,000* provided by the chair group, which can be used to pay for the activities listed in the TSP.

The training budget is generally not enough to cover all training related costs; PhD candidates and supervisors may need to find additional funding opportunities.

  • VLAG has limited possibilities to financially support the participation of VLAG PhD candidates in external courses.

*For PhD candidates who started after 31 December 2024.

Contact

For questions about the TSP, please contact Yvonne Smolders or Cornelia van Bree-Evers.