The Development programme for doctoral students lays the foundation for a long and sustainable working life in the academic community.
The teaching consists of a combination of introductory lectures, seminars, and workshops where examples are taken from the doctoral students' own context.
The whole programme is provided in English.
Please note that in autumn 2023 supervisors only need to participate in the form of discussions with their doctoral students. In other words, no specific seminars for supervisors will be conducted.
Development programme for doctoral students
Information for doctoral students
Content
Step 1: The doctoral student role and doctoral students' work environment targets doctoral students during the first half of the education, i.e. before the mid-seminar or licentiate seminar.
The aim of this step is to strengthen your ability for self-leadership and managing the requirements, expectations and potential challenges that the doctoral education entails.
Step 1 consists of four integrated seminars/themes with focus on:
- facing new conditions and demands
- accessing your abilities and finding strategies to develop them
- balancing the doctoral education with private life
- facing and managing difficult situations.
The themes in step 1 will help you to develop an understanding of the doctoral student's role in its context.
Expected outcomes
After having completed the first step of the programme, you should:
- have a basic understanding of the occasionally conflicting expectations and goals that the doctoral education entails
- have developed an understanding of stress management and the importance of balance and recovery
- have developed an ability to find a good work-life balance
- have developed your self-awareness and your ability to manage challenging situations.
Form of instruction
Step 1 consists of four three-hour sessions, i.e. 12 hours in total.
As part of the training, participants are expected to work with preparatory assignments and home assignments. Some of the assignments are done individually while some are based on conversations between you and your supervisor.
Schedule for the upcoming course offering
Seminar 1 for doctoral students: To face new conditions and demands
Date: Friday, 6 October, 2023
Time: 09:00 - 12:00
Place: Universitetsklubben
Seminar 2 for doctoral students: To access one's abilities and find strategies to develop them
Date: Thursday, 12 October, 2023
Time: 09:00 - 12:00
Place: Universitetsklubben
Seminar 3 for doctoral students: To balance the doctoral education with private life
Date: Friday, 20 October, 2023
Time: 09:00 - 12:00
Place: Lärarutbildningshuset, LÄR.B.230
Seminar 4 for doctoral students: To meet and manage difficult situations
Date: Thursday, 26 October, 2023
Time: 09:00 - 12:00
Place: Universitetsklubben
Information for supervisors
The purpose of step 1
The purpose of step 1 is to strengthen the doctoral student's ability for self-leadership and managing the expectations, performance requirements and potentially difficult situations that doctoral studies entail.
Stage 1 consists of four integrated seminars/themes with a focus on:
- How to meet new conditions and requirements.
- How to access their abilities and find strategies to develop them.
- How to balance research studies and personal life.
- How to to face and handle difficult situations.
Through these four themes, the first program step contributes to developing an understanding of the doctoral role and placing it in context.
The supervisors role
For the supervisor, the doctoral student's participation means that you are expected to participate in a number of discussion-based tasks. The intention is that you together will find ways to a good working environment and promote good cooperation.
How to apply to the programme
Apply to the programme (step 1 or step 2) by filling in and sending the application form. The application form is available via the link below and in the menu to the left.
Please remember to establish your participation in the programme with your supervisor before your application.
After your application you will receive an email with information about if you have been admitted or if you need to apply again for a later round.
Application for the Development programme for doctoral students
Application dates
Step 1: 30 August, 2023
Step 2: 20 January, 2024
Frequently asked questions
Who can participate?
As a doctoral student at Umeå University, you can apply to the programme if you get approval from one of your supervisors who also participate in the programme with you.
Why should I take the development programme for doctoral students?
The programme:
- strengthens doctoral students in leading themselves and coping with demands for performance
- supports the supervisors and clarifies their role in relation to the doctoral students
- clarifies the supervisors' responsibilities for the doctoral students' work environment
- provides the doctoral student and the supervisor with tools to handle tough situations that can arise in the doctoral education
- Increases the doctoral students' abilities to handle the role, which lays the foundation for a continued academic career after completed doctoral education.
What is the programme set up?
The programme is divided into two steps depending on how far into your doctoral education you have come.
Step 1: The doctoral student role and doctoral students' work environment is targeted at students who have not yet had their mid-seminar.
Step 2: From doctoral student to PhD is targeted to those who have had their mid-seminar.
All sessions are held in English.