The persuit of happiness Optimising student experience at KU Leuven - - PDF document

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The persuit of happiness Optimising student experience at KU Leuven - - PDF document

Sep 22, 2022 36 likes •137 views

25/03/2019 The persuit of happiness Optimising student experience at KU Leuven John Creemers Director Doctoral School Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven, Belgium STRESS & WELL- BEING @ WORK FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS KU Leuven, 12

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The persuit of happiness

Optimising student experience at KU Leuven

John Creemers Director Doctoral School Biomedical Sciences KU Leuven, Belgium

KU Leuven, 12 October, 2018

STRESS & WELL- BEING @ WORK FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS

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http://re.ukri.org/documents/2018/mental-health-report/

  • Problematic relation with supervisor
  • Job and financial insecurity
  • Negative image of academics in the media
  • Self-doubt and ‘imposter syndrome’

Many PhD researchers experience severe stress

KU Leuven, 12 October, 2018 Welcome and Introduction Improving the well-being of young researchers Gareth O’Neill (President EURODOC) What does KU Leuven have to offer you? 4 parallel workshops on stress and wellbeing Feedback from Workshops Reception & Networking Drink

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Q1: Positive words about doing a PhD

KU Leuven, 12 October, 2018 http://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/phd

Truncus communis:

  • Scientific article (≥1)
  • International meeting (≥1)
  • Attend seminars (≥15)
  • Progress reports (4)
  • Scientific Integrity courses (2)

Thematic research training (≥5ECTS) Master courses (≤12 ECTS/year) Transferable skills training (pick & choose) Doctoral training

Obligatory courses are limited at KU Leuven

Career development (pick & choose)

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Most PhDs pick multiple skills courses

Exit poll Biomedical Sciences

10 8 18 13 13 11 31 1 2 3 4 >5 5

[%]

# skills courses attended during PhD

Most PhDs attend multiple career events

Exit poll Biomedical Sciences

[%]

Testimonials 9 35 44 33 35 Industry day Job fair Company visit None

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Q2: Negative words about doing a PhD

KU Leuven, 12 October, 2018

Most supervisors are appreciated by their PhDs

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Grade given to promoter by PhD researcher I’d rather not answer

7% Non-completion rate: ~17% 7% 86%

Exit poll Biomedical Sciences

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YouReCa career center offers the course “Stress and Resilience”

  • What is stress (normal & accumulated)
  • The 3 stages of stress: Stress, Overworked, Burnout
  • The need for de-stressing & setting boundaries
  • Resilience, and positive thinking

Normal stress Accumulated stress

Optimal Optimal Trauma zone

https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/mentalhealth/stress-resilience.pdf

YouReCa career center offers the course “Time & Self-management”

  • Important vs urgent; Pareto principle
  • Multi-tasking vs Switch-tasking; Batchworking
  • Disconnect

https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/mentalhealth/ slides-well-being-time-self-management.pdf Goals+ Stress Goals Stress Urgent Not-urgent Important Not-important

Pareto Batchworking

Energy Mental break

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YouReCa career center offers the course “Career prospects”

  • Self-assessment (RDF vitae.ac.uk)
  • Current situation – exploration – matching
  • IDP – networking – planned happenstances

https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/mentalhealth/career-prospects.pdf Development area Flow Red flag Low

Level of skill

High Low Energy drain High

Interest

YouReCa career center offers the course “The rush hour of life”

  • work-life balance vs life@work
  • Improve personal effectiveness at work
  • Improvement is a long-term project; focus on small steps
  • Set boundaries between work and private life

https://www.kuleuven.be/english/research/mentalhealth/career-prospects.pdf No problem Big problem 10 4.21 6.58

PhD PI

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Q3: How do you cope with stress

KU Leuven, 12 October, 2018

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Social contacts are stimulated

  • The PhD society organises social event
  • Pangaea organises a buddy program
  • Thematic programs organise a Docs-day
  • Every department has a ‘confidente’

Knack 14/02/18: article-opinion-963793

It is bitter irony that universities destroy human capital like no other

…and let’s not forget the postdocs

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Conclusions

A passion for research drives PhDs. Additional training should be offered and encouraged on a needs basis Stress and pressure and the major threats for wellbeing. Workshops may help building resilience Stimulating (off-line) social networks may improve work-life balance and life@work

john.creemers@kuleuven.be