When you start your PhD, a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 supervisors will be appointed to supervise you throughout your PhD trajectory. One of these people takes on the role of coordinating supervisor. How the tasks are divided between the supervisors is laid down in the training and supervision plan.
Guidance consists of many tasks and also depends on the type of project and the process; you have to discuss this together. There is no template for "good" guidance, but the tasks of the supervisor are (among others):
- Informing about topics for doctoral research;
- Assisting in the writing and development of his research proposal;
- Assisting in setting up the research and setting up experiments, collecting and analysing data;
- Discuss topics such as responsible data governance, research integrity, and open science;
- Guidance in choosing a training programme;
- Supervising the writing of scientific publications and the dissertation;
- Helping to organise his time (setting aside enough time to write the thesis);
- Supporting the publication and presentation of scientific products;
- Supporting the pursuit of social impact and setting up suitable networks;
- Helping to prepare for a career (inside or outside academia);
- Preparing for the defense of the dissertation.
Dutch supervision style
In the Netherlands, in part due to its PhD system and relatively flexible management culture, PhD candidates are considered fellow researchers. This is in contrast to Anglo-American doctoral systems where PhD candidates are considered students.
As a PhD candidate at EUR you have a strong role and voice in research groups and are treated as a colleague. This is reflected in the type of supervision you can expect. Your supervisory team will in most cases advise you what to do or what to look further into, rather than tell you explicitly what to do or how to do it. You are expected to make and share notes of meetings and agreements, hand in written work in time and formulate concrete questions for supervisors. Always critically assess and respond to feedback. It is up to you to indicate when feedback is not clear or if you require more guidance on a particular issue.
If you want to learn more in depth Dutch attitudes towards work, employment contracts and the structure of academia in the Netherlands, download the handbook A Beginner’s Guide to Dutch Academia.