PROOF programme promotes the personal career development of doctoral candidates

Young Talent Best Practice – Eindhoven University of Technology

Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) designed the Proof programme to offer doctoral candidates personal development as well as growth opportunities in science. PROOF, short for 'PROviding Opportunities For PhD students’ is a programme that enables doctoral candidates to choose training programmes and courses that closely match their own personal and professional development. PROOF is an excellent addition to the research-oriented study programme and helps doctoral candidates make conscious decisions about their future career.

What does the PROOF programme involve?

In addition to a research-oriented study programme, the TU/e’s PROOF programme - short for ‘PROviding Opportunities for PhD students’ - promotes the personal development of doctoral candidates. Topics include developing personal effectiveness, and social and communication skills. Cultural awareness, academic integrity and entrepreneurship are becoming increasingly important for doctoral candidates. These themes have been incorporated in the PROOF programme.
Career coaching also involves a personality test as well as a personality analysis. The programme is designed and tailored to the current phase of the doctoral programme at the time doctoral candidates starts following the training programme.

What makes this career development policy successful?

The courses are tailored to the various phases of the doctoral programme. The options are clear to both doctoral candidates and their supervisors.

Each programme component is re-evaluated each time and substituted by, or supplemented with a programme that more appropriately matches the requirements of doctoral candidates and their supervisors, if required.

Feedback from the TU/e’s doctoral candidate network ProvoVe plays a key role in this respect. The TU/e thus ensures that the programme continues to match the changing needs of doctoral candidates.

Coordinating and incorporating separate courses or training programmes designed for one target group into one programme ensures quality and reduces costs.

Whom and what do you need for the programme?

One of the university’s Human Resource advisers acts as the main contact for the PROOF programme. There’s also a PROOF working group in which all faculties are represented. In each faculty one HR colleague is responsible for a specific course or training programme. The central course administration in the Personal and Organisation Department (DPO) processes applications and provides further administrative and organisational assistance.

How do you create and maintain awareness for PROOF?

When doctoral candidates start a doctoral programme they have an introductory meeting with DPO, during which the PROOF programme is highlighted. The candidate receives a leaflet and is referred to the general programme website for more details.

Agreements are made about courses and training programmes to be followed in the study and supervision plan to be drawn up as well as in the subsequent annual performance and development review. The format of the study and supervision plan is identical for all faculties and offers room for the PROOF programme.

DPO regularly brings upcoming courses to the attention of doctoral candidates. The website also plays a key role in this respect. Doctoral candidates can find more information about the programme on the website and they can apply for all available courses online.

Why is it important to invest in young talent?

Investing in young talent is important because they are destined to become future scientists or future partners of the business community. Research-oriented development is vital for ensuring the quality of research. Conversely, the doctoral candidate’s personal development is vital for becoming a true professional. The PROOF programme has been designed for this purpose. It furthermore offers doctoral candidates opportunities which enable them to make a conscious decision for their future career.

Why was the PhD programme structured in this manner?

Doctoral candidates were offered courses and training programmes from a range of locations at the TU/e. Overlaps are avoided by offering a single programme incorporating all aspects and this enables you to enhance quality as a result of coordination and broader evaluation. This method also achieves cost savings because training programmes and courses can be purchased efficiently.

What are the plans for the future?

The working group evaluates the PROOF programme and all associated courses twice a year. The programme is also adjusted and/or expanded based on the evaluation so that a topical range of courses remains available matching the requirements of doctoral candidates and supervisors. The new website will soon go live, which means that all study programmes will be clearly presented in a uniform manner. Doctoral candidates will be able to view at a glance the total range of available study programmes, and the programmes matching the phase of their doctoral programme.