A1 SENSE: building a personal vision for your PhD
A1 SENSE: building a personal vision for your PhD
A PhD is a degree, a learning trajectory towards becoming an independent researcher. The largest part of the PhD learning trajectory is spent on doing research, and the related thesis writing. However, becoming an independent researcher in your field entails so much more than “just” the research part. To ensure PhD candidates develop themselves into a broadly trained researcher, the PhD degree also requires a training and learning component.
Since every researcher is unique, with their own competencies, skills, ambition, and vision, such a training and learning component should be tailormade to the individual. You therefore need to develop your own vision on what kind of researcher you want to become and turn that into a learning path based on what fits you as a person, and as a researcher. You also need to develop the reflection, planning and discussion skills to manage the process towards becoming an independent, but interdependent researcher.
This course is therefore designed to lead to a first draft of your TSP; and should therefore be started around one or two months after you started your PhD.
Aim
The overall aim of the A1 course is to create a vision for your own development, accompanied by a plan. This, so you can proactively discuss, and reflect on, the direction you want to take with your research, together with your supervision team.
Online part
The online part is focused on developing a first draft of your TSP through the assignments. We will use an extended TSP form as the output, so you start discussions with your supervisors with the form they are used to.
In person days
The 2-2.5 in-person days are meant to, let you reflect on, and sharpen your plans for your project, by actively engaging with the topics a starting PhD candidate needs to think about. In order to support you in this process, you will learn and try out a few reflection, planning and discussion tools. The in-person days will also provide an opportunity to get to know other PhD students in the SENSE network. You can learn about each other’s research activities, the problems that are being tackled and get the opportunity to build new links within your network.
Set up and preparations
We give you the freedom to decide how in depth you want to go during the course. For this we offer
- A short version of the course, for those that have a clear idea of how to develop the personal leadership needed for getting the most out of the PhD. This shorter version will focus on turning how, and what you want to learn, into a plan, including a Training and Supervision Plan. It is credited with 1,2 ECTS, which includes 16 hours online preparation and 2 in person days.
- The in-depth version of the course, for those willing to take time to go deeper into what the concept of personal leadership in the PhD means for them. In this version more time is spent on developing plans to become an independent, critical researcher, with coaching from the teaching team. This version of the course will also lead to a Training and Supervision Plan, but with more reflection and preparation. This in-depth version is credited with 2 ECTS, which includes 28hrs of online preparation and 2,5 in person days.
Which version you of the course you choose to do, depends on your own willingness to invest time in these important topics.
How to decide: Please register first for the online version; look at the online modules and have a good think about your current skill level, knowledge and what you would like to get out of the course. Then do the assignments related to the short or in depth version. We will send out a registration form so you can register for the in person days later; in which you can indicate if you decided on doing the short, or in depth version.
To make the most out of the course, and to be able to effectively support your fellow PhD colleagues during the in-person days, it is mandatory to have finalized the assignments of the online part at least three weeks before the course starts. This way everyone has a good understanding of the concepts used and can enter discussions on a relatively equal footing.
Expectation during the course
We expect a pro-active, and positive attitude from all participants. In return, we will do our best to create a supportive environment, which enables you to reflect on the conditions you need, to get the most out of your PhD time.
During the in-person days we will provide workshops connected to the online modules, that will give you the opportunity to reflect on your ideas about leadership in your PhD.
Course Registration
Ideally, you register for the course within the first or second month of your PhD. The first step is to register for the online modules, after which we provide you with access to the Brightspace online environment. Please note that this course has two parts: the online part and the in-person part. They are both mandatory and non-optional.
The registration for the online part of the course is open. Please fill out this form and we will add you to the class environment in Brightspace and grant you access to the assignments that you can already do. These assignments are particularly useful for your TSP. We recommend doing them as soon as possible, even if March feels very far away.
A few weeks before the in-person days of course, we will ask you to fill out the second registration form for the in-person days. In this form you will have to indicate whether you have chosen to do the short or in-depth version of the course.
A note for non-WUR PhD candidates:
For non-WUR PhD candidates we will provide a guest account.WUR is changing it’s process with guest accounts. All non- WUR PhD candidates will be provided with a guest account which will allow them access into Brightspace until 31/12/2026. After this date, non-WUR PhDs will have to use EduID. We will provide you with information on this matter upon registering.
Logistics
During the in-person days we will be staying overnight at Hotel de Bosrand in Ede. This means you will have to bring all items with you, for the number of days you will stay. As the hotel is next to the forest, we recommend you take outdoor shoes so you can go for walks. All meals, linen and towels are included.
You will need to take all online assignments with you and a laptop / tablet + notebook and pen.
Please note that staying in the hotel is mandatory, as it promotes socializing with other peers. This applies to all, regardless of where you live. You are expect to stay in the hotel, unless there are exceptional circumstances that prevent you from this.
Venue in person days
The in-person days take place in Hotel de Bosrand in Ede: https://www.debosrand.com/english
The course will take place over 2 or 2,5 days and has a social evening program. We expect participants to stay overnight, unless previously indicated by the participant with a valid reason. Note that you will be sharing a room with another PhD candidate; if you already know who you want to share the room with, you can indicate this at registration. Please note that if you don’t provide us with any indication of a roommate, we will automatically assign you with another person from your same gender.
Dates and times:
Short course: 23 – 24 March 2027
In-depth course: 23 – 25 March 2027
Information on arrival & departure time and the course schedule, will be communicated a few weeks before.
Course Fee
The fees for the March 2027 edition have not been confirmed yet. As reference, these were the fees for the October 2026 edition:
The fee for this course is €375 for the short version and €425* for the in-depth version of the course, for all SENSE participants. For WIMEK participants the fee will be fully covered.
PLEASE NOTE: due to the preparation costs, we urge you to check your calendar carefully before registering for this course. A last-minute withdrawal, without a valid reason will result in having to pay part of, or the full fee. See the cancellation policy below.
*The fee includes all meals, accommodation in the hotel and a coordination fee.
Cancellation policy
When cancelling within six weeks prior to the course without a valid reason, a fee of €115 euro will be charged.
When cancelling within 4 weeks prior to the course a fee of €210 will be charged.
When cancelling within two weeks prior to the course the full fee of €425 will be charged.
Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us. By NOT paying the participation fee, your registration is NOT automatically cancelled (and do note that you will be kept to the cancellation conditions). Also note that when there are not enough participants, we can cancel the course. We will inform you if this is the case a week after the early bird deadline. Please take this into account when arranging your trip to the course (I.e. check the reimbursement policies).
General Information
Credit points
Short version: 1,2 ECTS
In-depth version: 2.0 ECTS
Language
English
Group size
40-55 participants
Prior knowledge
Prerequisite: having started a PhD in the environmental sciences at a SENSE institute
Frequency
Twice a year (February/March and October). Upcoming edition: 23-25 March 2027
In case you have any questions about the content of the course, please contact anouk.deplaa@wur.nl.
In case you have logistical questions, please reach out to sense@wur.nl
Next edition of this course
Spring 2027
Former occurrences of this course
17-19 February 2026 | 28-30 October 2025 | 26-28 March 2025 | 23-25 October 2024 | 27-29 March 2024 | 8-10 Nov 2023 | 28-29 March 2023 | 27-28 Oct 2022 | 21-22 March 2022 | 25-29 Oct 2021 | 19-23 April 2021 | 26-30 Oct 2020 | 25-27 March, 2020 | 23-25 Oct 2019 | 27-29 March 2018 | 17-19 Oct 2018 | 28-30 March 2018 | 4-6 Oct 2017 | 29-31 March 2017 | 5-7 Oct 2016 | 30 March – 1 Apr 2016 | 23-25 Sept 2015 | 18-20 March 2015 | 1-3 Oct 2014 | 19-21 March 2014 | 25-27 Sept 2013 | 20-22 March 2013 | 26-28 Sept 2012 | 21-23 March 2012 | 28-30 Sept 2011 | 15-17 March 2011 | 22-24 Sept 2010 | 19-22 Jan 2010
