The partner program and other news from the PhD committee
The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused and is still causing challenges and disruptions in our everyday life. The restrictions hits all of us both personally and professionally but our junior researchers are especially challenged.
They are on short-term contracts; a Danish PhD is only three years, there are experiments, courses, teaching, change of environment, duty-work; and now a whole year has been influenced already.
Fortunately, we have a group of very talented young people full of initiative, and with a great sense of empathy. They all work hard, but are at the same time very observant on each other and caring a lot. This has resulted in a new initiative in AGRO: “the partner program” to combat feelings of isolation and lack of comradery during the COVID restrictions. The current members of our PhD committee will link interested junior researchers living nearby one another to meet, chat, and check-in on each other periodically.
This initiative is a true proof of the commitment from our juniors who are very engaged in the department, and it shows that some “good vibes” has come out of the COVID-19 situation. We hope that the program will continue in some way also after we again are allowed to get back to work, as it can help prevent loneliness and lack of belonging.
Compensation for change of environment and lost courses etc.
Due to COVID-19 some parts of a normal PhD has also not been possible to implement in 2020 and 2021. Among these things are participation in courses and going on research change of environment.
In order to compensate for this GSTS have initiated some alternatives. One of them is that it will exceptionally be possible to do a virtual change of research environment where PhD students participate in supervision, seminars, group meeting etc. with another research group at a foreign research institution.
In addition, it will be possible for PhD students to do a change of research environment at another Danish university. Virtual participation and contribution will be accepted, if physical attendance is not permitted. If “change of environment” is impossible, students should (via main supervisor) send a motivated request for exemption by mail to the Head of Programme.
In relation to courses all PhD students, who will be unable to fulfill the ECTS requirements of their PhD study - minimum 28 ECTS and maximum 31 ECTS - must apply for an exemption. The PhD Students must send a motivated request via the Main supervisor to the Head of programme. The Head of programme forwards it with a recommendation to the Head of PhD School for final decision. If the exemption is corona-related, the application must clearly state this too.
Finally on the funny side: How about introducing a “dance-your-PhD competition” at the next PhD get-together- along with a “dance your supervision”?
Take it easy and stay safe