Course

WASS Introduction Course 2025

Starting a PhD is a big challenge. Especially in the beginning, new candidates will encounter lots of new information and uncertainties; a new workplace, new colleagues, preparing a four-year process, writing a research proposal, etcetera. In order to feel at home within the Wageningen School of Social Science (WASS), to get to know your fellow PhD candidates, and to overcome pitfalls and problems during the PhD process, Wageningen School of Social Science offers the WASS Introduction Course for new PhD candidates.

Organised by Carlos Barzola Iza
Date

Wed 5 March 2025 until Thu 6 March 2025

Venue Hotel WICC Wageningen

Objectives of the course

The objective of the WASS Introduction Course is to make new PhD candidates more familiar with the WASS organisation and to prepare them for the PhD process. During various sessions, PhD candidates will be introduced to the WASS organisation, its fellows, and the PhD Council. A number of workshops will be offered with the objective to prepare candidates for their PhD process.

More specifically, the following issues will be considered:

  •  Everything you need to know about WASS

  •  Meeting the PhD Council

  •  Ethics in Social Sciences

  •  Competences necessary for the PhD process

  •  Proposal approval & Code of conduct

  •  Methodological challenges and pitfalls

  •  Dealing with your supervisor

The courses will mainly be given at an external location, the maximum number of participants is 24.

Target group and learning outcomes

Target group are new WASS PhD candidates.

After the completion of this introduction course participants:

- are better prepared for their PhD process by being:

  • Informed about practicalities and formalities in their PhD process

  • Aware of the competences that are needed in their PhD process

  • Aware of communication issues that can occur with supervisors and learning how to deal with these

  • Informed on the approval procedure of their research proposal

-  have a better understanding of the WASS organisation and feeling as a member of WASS

  • The (international) candidates have a better insight in the Dutch culture

  • Candidates are aware of the WASS mission and themes

  • Candidates know the importance of ethics within WASS research and can relate that to their own research

  • Candidates know each other and are familiar with the WASS staff and the WASS fellows.

    Course fee

    The course fee is 150 euros.

    Outline and ECTS  

    The WASS Introduction Course will be offered regularly:

    • March 5-6 (March 5 is including dinner)
    • May 7-8 (May 7 is including dinner)
    • July 9-10 (July 9 is including dinner)
    • October 1-2 (October 1 is including dinner)
    • December 3-4 (December 3 is including dinner)

      It is a compulsory course for 1 ECTS

        Teaching methods

        Information sessions are combined with interactive workshops and social activities.

        Requirements

        The Introduction Course does not require specific knowledge or preparation. This course is especially useful for WASS PhD candidates that have just started their PhD project. For preparation, the PhD candidates could make a list of all the questions they have about WASS, the PhD process, and pitfalls that could occur during their PhD process.

        Cancellation conditions

        Participants can cancel their registration free of charge 1 month before the course starts. A cancellation fee of 100% applies if a participant cancels his/her registration less than 1 month prior to the start of the course.

        The organisers have the right to cancel the course no later than one month before the planned course start date in the case that the number of registrations does not reach the minimum.

        The participants will be notified of any changes at their e-mail addresses.