Project management

Target Audience:

VIB PhD student

VIB postdoc

VIB staff scientist

VIB group leader or expert

Location:

Leuven - Hotel Park Inn by Radisson

Duration:

17 & 18 November 2025

General context

Managing research projects often involves uncertainty, multiple stakeholders, and shifting priorities. Unlike traditional project environments, academic and scientific projects rarely follow a linear path. This course offers a pragmatic, research-specific approach to project management, helping researchers gain more structure and control over their work without losing flexibility. Through a combination of online learning, interactive workshops, and peer engagement, participants will learn to lead projects more effectively and deliver results with greater confidence.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Apply core project management principles to plan and lead research projects effectively.
Combine traditional and agile planning techniques to build realistic and adaptable project timelines.
Identify and engage key stakeholders, including internal and external partners.
Conduct more productive status meetings and improve team alignment.
Monitor project progress, adjust plans when needed, and maintain sponsor satisfaction.
Reflect on their own project leadership style and improve communication within project teams.

Approach

This course follows a flipped-classroom format, designed to balance flexibility with in-depth application:

Pre-course (6 weeks): Weekly online content and short assignments (±30 min/week) via a collaborative platform. These exercises introduce theory and stimulate reflection on project and stakeholder management in research contexts.
Live training (2 days): Interactive sessions focusing on practical application through real research cases. Topics include planning under uncertainty, engaging stakeholders, managing expectations, and maintaining momentum throughout the project lifecycle.
Follow-up (3 months): Participants receive tips and prompts via email, and retain access to the online platform to stay connected with peers and the trainer.

Event intended for

VIB postdocs and last year PhD students, staff scientists, group leaders and experts.

Extra information

Testimonials

It all went very organic, the trainer picked in on the real life project examples that we gave. It really felt like she knew 200% what she was talking about and let this course pick in on the most urgent needs of the participants.

Participant edition spring 2024

Training was well structured and organized. Our trainer was well prepared, open for discussion and going away from the general flow, if people were bringing extra topics. Was also open to help each person individually even outside the scope/hours of the training. Very positive person and atmosphere.

Participant edition autumn 2023

The course is very flexible and dependent on the group. This makes it very applicable to people managing projects outside of research functions as well.

Participant edition spring 2022

Trainers

Katia Van Belle

Propellor, BE

Katia Van Belle is an enthusiastic, positive-minded professional with extensive project management expertise and a proven record of successfully completing initiatives.

She adapts seamlessly to different roles—motivator, critical thinker, challenger, or practical advisor. Her message is clear and consistent: "take action with what you learn." Ownership forms the foundation of her approach.

With creativity at her core, Katia designs engaging learning journeys and training programs. She combines playfulness with no-nonsense practicality, always searching for solutions that fit each group's specific environment. By demonstrating effective work-life balance herself, she inspires the teams she collaborates with.

Commercial Engineer, CIGO, PRINCE2® Trainer, PMP®, PROSCI (ADKAR®), ActeeChange Ambassador, Learning Design.

About Propellor