WIMEK PhD Education Program

WIMEK (co-)organises a broad range of courses and activities in support of our PhD program. This page gives an overview of the courses we (co-)organise, and/or courses organised by Wageningen Graduate schools (which we are a part of).

Note that you can take PhD level courses anywhere in the world. In fact, we actively encourage you to take courses like Summer/Winter schools in your field abroad; to become a guest researcher at a different research organisation or other research based entity, or to find other means to broaden your view beyond Wageningen and the Netherlands.

If you, as a PhD candidate or a supervisor, want to initiate a PhD level course, do not hesitate to contact us at wimek@wur.nl.

1. In depth knowledge and general academic skills

A requirement is to take >2 ECTS in this category. You can find WIMEK’s offering below. Again, you can take courses anywhere in the world in this category, as long as the course is aimed at PhD researchers, early career researchers or beyond (i.e. entrée level should be an MSc degree). The idea is that the course either allows you to specialise further (at the PhD level); or that it puts your PhD research in a broader scientific or societal context. You can discuss with your supervisor which course to take. When in doubt if a course meets the requirement, send an email to WIMEK.

Currently planned One-off courses

This lists courses that we are currently offering and/or developing,or that were offered at some point because PhD candidates help set this up. If the course has been offered in the past, but you are interested in re-organising it, let us know. Possibly, we can contact the organisers to see if we can re-organise. If interested in organising a one-off course yourself, let us know! wimek@wur.nl

Method courses

WIMEK organises method courses when the need for basic, or advanced method courses is shared across several chair groups. Note that advanced method course in your specific field can count for the in depth, specialised PhD level courses; but not the introduction or intermediate courses. WIMEK currently does not organise such advanced method courses.

For Statistics courses in R we have an agreement with PE&RC; they focus on the R courses. See their course planning here.

Courses for improving Scientific writing and presenting

Writing and presenting: For overview: see https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/. Organised multiple times a year

Critical thinking and argumentation: See https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/courses/details/323

MSc courses

MSc courses can be taken up in the TSP if you and your supervisor feel your knowledge in a particular area is not yet up to MSc level. There is a maximum of 12 ECTS in this category. Our advice is to discuss with your supervisor, followed by the course coordinator of the course, where you can follow part of the course; or whether you have to follow it fully. Be aware that you cannot take up MSc courses you need to take for a Qualifying Exam.

For more information: see our MSc course registration nformation page

2. Scientific integrity and self-management

Scientific integrity/ Ethics courses

From 2025 onwards, there is a requirement to do at least 0.3 on Scientific Integrity and/or Ethics. WGS organises courses on these themes; see https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/. Courses are organised multiple times a year.

Effective research management

This course category includes courses on how you manage the research process in terms of data management, literature management, project planning etc. In short: the project management from a practical perspective. Unless indicated differently, you can find a list of courses offered at https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/

3. Transferable professional skills

From 2025 onward there is a mandatory requirement to obtain 1 ECTS or more from courses in this category. During your PhD trajectory, and throughout your career, you will develop skills and competencies that are transferable to other jobs. These skills mainly have to do with how you manage your PhD through interactions with people, in other words: your inner- and outer leadership skills. We advise you to also think of activities that support your development, so you can demonstrate applying your skills and competencies in different settings.

4. Societal impact

New knowledge and insights from PhD research can make an important contribution to solutions for societal issues of today and tomorrow. In other words, your research can have a great impact. In addition, more and more funding agencies require you to have thought about your research pathway to impact. Below, we list the Wageningen courses that support your competency development for taking action, and to communicate your actions and impact. For your TSP, do not forget to also think about your actions and/or activities!

Teaching

Note that teaching is limited to max. 10% of you contract time for contract PhD candidates (see TSP for calculation of hours); for all other PhD candidates, there is no teaching requirement. Of course, learning how to teach can be listed on the TSP; and is highly encouraged. If your chair group organises small courses themselves, you of course take them up in the TSP. Well known sources for courses are listed below.

5. Career perspectives

Wageningen Graduate Schools organises courses to help you prepare for your next career move (section 8 on https://wgs.crs.wur.nl/). But also keep in mind other activities like Internships, visits, career markets and other activities you could do to figure out what steps you need to take next.

Other Research Schools

For more courses, you can visit the course pages of the other research schools:

• Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS)
• Graduate School for Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC)
• Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS)
• Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS)
• VLAG
• SENSE