How to manage your PhD
How to manage your PhD
13 March, 24 March, 28 April and 26 May 2025, each time from 9h00-13h00
General context
To be successful in your PhD, you need to be able to “manage” your project, yourself and your environment. This course focuses on all these 3 pillars.
At the end of this training, you will be able to:
- Define the scope of your research project
- Make an efficient project planning
- Make conscious choices (if changing plans is necessary)
- Create Milestone project planning with activities on weekly & monthly basis
- Determine stakeholders and learn how to influence them proactively & reactively
- Get things done by influencing your environment
- Integrate the secrets of self-management
- Survive a setback during your PhD (resilience)
- Switch to plan B if necessary (resilience)
The training consists of 4 (half-day) sessions. These 4 sessions are likely spread out over multiple weeks, as the participants need to apply what they have learned during the training to their own PhD.
PhD students working in VIB Centers.
- This training is only open to VIB participants and is free.
- For free courses, a no-show fee of € 100 per day is charged for in-person courses and € 50 per day for online courses.
- You will not be admitted to any future VIB TRAINING course for 12 months following the no-show. For courses consisting of several days, we expect you to be present on all days. Click here for more information.
The training learned me a lot on how I react in discussions and that had me reflect on how I behave in my work environment.
Participant edition autumn 2024
It was very inspiring and now I feel more confident in my PhD, because I know what are the problems to expect and ways to tackle them.
Participant edition spring 2023
Very useful content, a lot of practical exercises, a lot of interaction, very well prepared trainer, friendly, open and safe atmosphere, good training planning, appropriate number of participants. The training exceeded my expectations.
Participant edition autumn 2022
Trainers
True Colours
True Colours® is a creation of Lisa Boelaert and Herwig Deconinck – inspired by 17 years of working together and our shared drive, dream and vision concerning people, development, teamwork & change.
As a change consultancy, True Colours has built a niche within research and academic organisations on the one hand, and they work for profit, non-profit, production and service companies on the other hand.
True Colours coaches:
•Individuals (coaching/training/supporting)
•Teams (team coaching, conflict mediation, team development, teambuilding)
•Organisations (process support, work conferences and large group interventions, setting up and guiding change programmes, strategy exercises, …)
regarding the changes that are happening to them or in which they find themselves.
True Colours likes to combine their insights and experiences in HR, solutions-focused work practices, organisational design and lean management, and personal and team leadership.
They specialise in short-term projects within a long-term relationship: a thorough knowledge of the client enables us to respond maximally to concrete requests and makes change possible in the short-term. They have been working together with VIB for more that 10 years now.
Program
Session 1:
- Project Management instead of routine or improvisation
- Different types of projects
- Project management in a research project
- Contracting between project leader and client
- Bermuda triangle (goals, resources, timing)
- Project charter
Session 2:
- Project charter (continued)
- Milestones planning
- Kick-off, follow-up and closing of projects
- Getting things done
- Prioritize things
Session 3:
- Milestone plan
- Stakeholder management
- Influencing people
- Determining your own style
Session 4:
- Stakeholder analysis and communication plan
- Integration of learned lessons and how to project management has influence on it
Practical info
13 March 2025 - 26 May 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
13 March 2025 - 26 May 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
13 March 2025 - 26 May 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
13 March 2025 - 26 May 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.
13 March 2025 - 26 May 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
13 March - room L4
24 March - room L1
28 April - room L1
26 May - room L4