1.
6/05/2017
1
Implementing an IDP at KU Leuven;
Raising awareness amongst
PhD researchers AND supervisors
John Creemers
Director Doctoral School Biomedical Sciences
KU Leuven
Belgium
5 May 2017
2

2.
6/05/2017
2
Why do we need an
Individual Development Plan?
How does our Individual
Development Plan work?
3
An IDP helps PhD researchers to map their
academic and professional development
IDP Skills,
Training,
Teaching
Research
Career
planning
…together with your supervisor

3.
6/05/2017
3
IDPs are commonly used in the USA
5
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2015.04.025
The majority of PhDs leave academia
6
Source: VRWB
Public sector
Industry
Academic
professorship
9%
of PhD
graduates
91%
of PhD
graduates
NGO
Teaching
Post-
doc
Academic
career
PhD
100%
Non-academic
career
Permanent staff
34%
66%
18%
82%
Academic
Non-
Academic

4.
6/05/2017
4
The majority of PhDs leave academia
7
Source: VRWB
Public sector
Industry
Academic
professorship
9%
of PhD
graduates
91%
of PhD
graduates
NGO
Teaching
Post-
doc
Academic
career
PhD
100%
Non-academic
career
Permanent staff
34%
66%
18%
82%
Academic
Non-
Academic
Which skills are missing after PhD training?
8NEEDED SKILLS current job
ACQUIRED SKILLS
during PhD Industry
Services
Public
sector
Private
non-profit
Higher
education
University
+
Research skills
Personal effectiveness
Communication skills
Team skills
Management skills
ECOOM: CDH (2010) Belgium
N=4190

5.
6/05/2017
5
9
ECOOM-CDH (2010) – Data for Flanders & Prof. Luc Sels - Economics & Business (2013)
A PhD will (also) get you a (better paid) job
outside academia
Unemployed PhDs in Biomed. Sci. 0.6% (4/618)
Increase in salary (PhD vs MSc) 9%
The more doctoral candidates anticipate the
preparation for their career, the greater will be their
job satisfaction and the easier their job search…
10
Survey: Pierre & Marie Curie University (2014)

6.
6/05/2017
6
An IDP facilitates constructive discussions
between PhD researchers and supervisors
The value of an IDP is acknowledged by alumni

7.
6/05/2017
7
Why do we need an IDP?
How does our IDP work?
13
Acknowledgements for IDP@KUL-BMS
14
Joey Barnett
Vice-dean, Vanderbilt
University, USA
Christophe Vandenbriele
Postdoc Representative
KU Leuven
Bart Nuttin
Research Coordinator
KU Leuven
Brenda Aerts
Doctoral School
KU Leuven

8.
6/05/2017
8
Our IDP starts with long-term objectives
15
o Academic vs non-academic?
o What have you done to prepare yourself?
o What competences do you want/need to develop?
o What resources do you need & can your PI help?
.…before planning for the upcoming year
16
o What are your main research goals?
o Which actions will you take for your career?
o What is the time line for these actions?
o How can your supervisor help?
o How can you improve? (Q for supervisor)

9.
6/05/2017
9
The online tool (Toledo) requires input
from both you and your supervisor
17
o PhD researcher fills out his/her part (info via web links)
o Sends it to supervisor (‘ask for feedback’)
o Have a face-to-face meeting with the supervisor
o After discussing the IDP, it is finalized (e-signed)
o Upload PDF as milestone
The IDP has to be completed twice during your PhD
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Charter o/t
PhD res. &
promotor
Provisional
doctoral plan
1st year valuation
Research
seminar
Final doctoral
plan
IDP
E-portfolio
Thesis
manuscript
(turnitin
lirias)
IDP
defence
Scientific Integrity I
Scientific
Integrity II

10.
6/05/2017
10
Conclusions
19
o The IDP aims to stimulate career planning
of PhD researchers
o Makes supervisors aware of their responsibility
in career development of their PhD researchers
Your PhD
your future