The document discusses acquiring generic skills as part of graduate training. It defines generic skills as transferable skills such as the ability to communicate effectively, work in a team, solve problems, and plan and organize work. These skills can be learned and improved during PhD studies through research activities with supervisors, courses offered by the graduate school, networking with other students, and creating opportunities for skill development in daily work. The takeaway message is that generic skills acquired during a PhD will benefit students in any future career path.

1. Lou de Leij
Dean of Research UMCG
Dean of the Groningen
Graduate Schools
May 16th, 2013 | 1
Acquiring ‘Generic Skills’ as part of
your graduate training: a joy for ever!
UMCG

2. May 16th, 2013 | 2
• Merlijne Jaspers got her PhD in
Medical Sciences on April 4th
, 2012.
• She works as a Policy Officer at the
University of Groningen now.
• For Merlijne a PhD title was
necessary for being selected for this
interesting job. In fact this was
proof of having the right ‘generic
skills’.
Acquiring ‘Generic Skills’ as part of
your graduate training: a joy for ever!

3. May 16th, 2013 | 3
UMCG
Points that will be addressed today:
• What are ‘generic skills’ and which of these are the
skills of a well-trained PhD?
• How can you learn/improve these skills in Groningen?
• Take home message: train your ‘Generic Skills’,
because these are ‘a joy for ever’, whether you stay in
academia or not!
Acquiring ‘Generic Skills’ as part of
your graduate training: a joy for ever!

4.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key (or general)
competencies/qualities
 Translational skills!!
May 16th, 2013 | 4
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/

5.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 5
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently to others
(in English) in front of an audience, in a team, in a
debate or just in a ‘one tot one’ conversation.

6.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 6
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.

7.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 7
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems

8.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 8
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work

9.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 9
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
Ability to obtain and process information

10.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 10
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
Ability to obtain and process information
Ability to analyze quantitative data

11.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 11
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
Ability to obtain and process information
Ability to analyze quantitative data
- Etcetera.....

12.  Employability skills
 Transferable skills
 Core skills
 Soft skills
 Key competencies (or
‘abilities’)
May 16th, 2013 | 12
‘Generic skills’ are
also called:
UMCG
Source:
http://onestopjobsonline.com/blog/
Ability to explain your thoughts eloquently.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to make decisions and to solve problems
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
Ability to obtain and process information
Ability to analyze quantitative data
- Etcetera.....
These ‘abilities’ are personal ‘key competencies’
which can be learned and further trained,
especially during preparation for a PhD thesis!

13. May 16th, 2013 | 13
Another view on important skills for PhD’s
UMCG
Source: DEAKIN University Australia (http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/pd/tl-modules/teaching-
approach/group-assignments/topic02php)

14. May 16th, 2013 | 14
UMCG
Source: DEAKIN University Australia (http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/pd/tl-modules/teaching-
approach/group-assignments/topic02php)
Another view on important skills for PhD’s
Generic skills
(needed for doing research)

15.  Generic skills are acquired mainly by just
‘doing your PhD research job’ with a
major role for your promotor
/supervisor / team. But, create your own
opportunities and seek for improvement.
 The Graduate School offers a variety of
educational modules for improving both
‘research’ and ‘generic’ skills (you are
entitled to spend 20-30 EC on this).
How to learn/train these skills?
| 15May 16th, 2013

16. PhD training program
May 16th, 2013
UMCG
 PhD training should lead to defending a thesis
o A thesis contains the results of your research (usually
a number of published papers) and an introduction,
summary and discussion.
o Research is done under supervision (promotors
and/or daily supervisors) and in the context of a
‘team’ (research group, department, research
program, research institute, graduate school).
This is a perfect learning

17. o Active participation in various
activities (seminars, congresses,
research meetings, but also the way
you organize your day to day work,
etc.) will help to improve your
research, but in parallel also
ensures acquiring ‘generic skills’.
o Courses are offered to improve both
your ‘research’ and ‘generic skills’.
| 17May 16th, 2013
PhD training program
UMCG

18.  Courses for ‘generic’ skills:
• Introductory event(s).
• PhD project management.
• Publishing in English.
• Presentational skills.
• Educational skills.
• Choosing your career in Life Sciences
(to prepare for a post PhD career).
• Etc.
| 18May 16th, 2013
PhD training program
See the GSMS
website and/or the
PhD Study guide.

19. | 19
The UoG is a ‘broad’
university!
See for more
information about the
activities of the GGS:
http://www.rug.nl/ed
ucation/phd-
programme/general-
information/training-
programme
May 16th, 2013
Is there more?

20. | 20May 16th, 2013
Is there more?
The UoG is a ‘broad’
university!
See for more
information about the
activities of the GGS:
http://www.rug.nl/ed
ucation/phd-
programme/general-
information/training-
programme

21. Even more?
| 21
See: http://www.gopher.im/
Olga Sin
 Seek support and advise from
fellow PhD students (e.g. from
your research group, the GSMS
council, Gopher, GRIN, etc.). Just
interact and communicate!
 Join PhD community activities.
 Start social networks and get a lot
of (new) friends. Networking is
not only a lot of fun, but also an
important ‘generic skill’!
See: http://www.grin.im/
May 16th, 2013
Faris Nizamic,
(PhD day 2013)
Emi Saliasi

22. May 16th, 2013 | 22
Summary
• During the preparation of your PhD thesis you will
learn a lot of ‘generic skills’.
• Examples are: communication (verbally, in writing and
during presentation), team work, leadership, project
management, data analysis, problem solving,
creativity, comprehending, critical thinking, ethical
practice.
• Courses can be of help. Use these opportunities! But,
more importantly, create your own opportunities also
in your day to day research.

23. Thank you for your attention and
remember:
| 23
 The importance of acquiring the right
‘generic skills’ is often forgotten or taken
for granted during the preparation a PhD
thesis, but these skills are in fact the most
important part of this and are a ‘joy for
ever’, whether you stay in academia or not.
 Be aware of the opportunities and start
training these skills today!
May 16th, 2013
UMCG