After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

1. Identify and articulate their core values, strengths, and own identity as a researcher/professional [know yourself]
2. Critically evaluate professional/personal/career choices and opportunities and understand the relative trade-offs of decisions wrt values, strengths, etc [lead yourself]
3. Apply everyday practices that promote their own health, wellbeing and research productivity [wellbeing]
4. Develop peer coaching skills
5. Understand the value of networking and connecting with others as a peer cohort

Being a PhD student can be challenging at the best of times, and even more so in times of pandemic. However it is not enough to just survive being a PhD student. It is also possible to thrive and build the foundations for a sustainable satisfying and rewarding career path. 

This course focusses on two foundational sets of personal skills towards thriving as an academic/researcher/professional. 

One is about understanding who you are as an academic/researcher/professional, and shaping your choices to be in line with your values and building on your strengths. 

The other is about bringing your best self to your work by taking wellbeing seriously. The scientific evidence is clear that “…well-being is a critical enabling condition for academic success [where] …balanced, happy people are more productive, more creative, more collaborative….” [Berkeley Uni ‘Graduate Happiness and Wellbeing Report’, 2014] 

The overall aim of this course therefore is to develop critical personal skills that are important for knowing yourself and looking after yourself as an academic/researcher/professional. The content of the course will be driven by input on core skills, as well as topics identified by participants as important to them now

Pre-recorded video lectures, online lectures, and readings

Self-work such as completing validated questionnaires, trying out different interventions

Blocked workshop sessions

Highly interactive online group discussions, presentations and reflections

Format: Note: we have been advised to say 'hybrid' given current uncertainties but our hope is that we will be able to deliver the course in person as the main modality.]

Admission priority: This is a Fundamental PhD Course of the Faculty of Informatics for doctoral students. Doctoral students in Computer Science therefore have admission priority to this course.

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ECTS breakdown: 3 ECTS = 75 hours

29 hrs class sessions

13 hrs video lectures, articles

13 hrs self-work re worksheets, interventions etc

10 hrs reflective journal

10 hrs final report

50% Reflective journal: [LO 1,2,3,4,5] – due 8 Jan 2024

• incl reflections on course topics, workshop activities, experiences trying out different interventions, etc 

50% Career explorations: [LO 1,2,3] – due 31 Jan 2024

• Personalised statement of you as an academic/research/professional: ‘my user manual’
• Strategic career principles: including e.g., decision criteria, key qualities, key contributions, job crafting strategies  
• Alternative future career scenarios

Please register in TISS.

Numbers are limited so register early.