doctoraatsopleidingen

Doctoraatsopleidingen are structured training programs associated with doctoral research in Dutch-speaking universities. They are designed to complement the PhD trajectory by providing formal instruction and the development of research and transferable skills. Doctoraatsopleidingen can be organized at the level of a doctoral school, faculty, or department and are usually open to doctoral candidates across disciplines. Participation is often mandatory or strongly encouraged, and completion may require passing courses, assembling a portfolio, and meeting a progress evaluation.

Typical components include courses in research methodology, statistics, ethics and research integrity, scientific writing, data management, publication and dissemination, presentation skills, teaching, and career development. Some programs include summer schools, workshops, or online modules. Many universities assign a supervisor (promotor) and a co-supervisor, and candidates undergo periodic progress reviews or a mid-term evaluation to ensure the research is on track.

Outcomes: successful completion of the doctoraatsopleiding accompanies the doctoral defense and the awarding of the doctorate. The training aims to enhance methodological competence, project management, and employability in both academic and non-academic sectors. Variants exist between countries and institutions; in the Netherlands, for instance, doctoral candidates (promovendi) are often employed by the university and participate in a formal doctoral training program as part of their overall PhD trajectory. In Flanders and other Dutch-speaking contexts, similar structures exist under doctoral schools or faculties, with comparable goals and requirements.

See also: PhD, doctoral school, research integrity, doctoral portfolio.