PhD Competence Assessment

Course schedule

Dates Start time End time Location Coordinator    
2025 - This course is individually based.
PLEASE NOTE: After your registration has been accepted you will receive an acceptance email including instructions on how to schedule your personal assessment. Please do so within 2 months or else your registration will be deleted.
 On Campus or in our office in the Agro-BTC building, a 5 minute bike ride away from Campus. Online is also possible. Wageningen Graduate Schools (WGS) Apply

Course description

Competence Assessment

This is an online assessment, consisting of a competence test and a personality test, followed by a 1,5 hrs coaching session to discuss your results and translate them to your PhD and your training programme. 

PLEASE NOTE:

  1. The assessment is for PhD candidates at the beginning of their PhD assignment at Wageningen University and Research BEFORE the go/no go decision is made. (For PhD candidates after the go/no go we recommend the course Career Assessments.)
  2. After your registration has been accepted you will receive an acceptance email including instructions on how to schedule your personal assessment. Please do so within 2 months or else your registration will be deleted.

Obtaining a PhD degree demands a variety of skills and competences. Besides organising numerous courses and trainings to strengthen your competences and skills, WGS offers a PhD competence assessment.

The competence assessment consists of two online  tests:

  1. A competence test that focuses on competences relevant in science such as organising capacity, analytical thinking, collaboration, problem solving and stress resilience.
  2. A personality test, based on the Big Six.

In the 1,5 hr coaching session, the assessment consultant discusses the test results with you and translates them to training and coaching advise.

We recommend PhD candidates to participate, as it is a means through which PhD candidates can identify potential pitfalls while doing their PhD, how to tackle these and how to improve their competences and skills to get the most out of their PhD training. Note that this is not a judgemental evaluation of the candidate.

The competence assessment:

  • Gives insight in your personal strengths and pitfalls regarding the requirements you need to obtain a PhD degree in the given 4-year period
  • Gives insight in the opportunities to overcome your pitfalls
  • Helps you to formulate a more tailor-made training programme related to the competences you want to develop
  • You receive the test reports and your personal development advice. You are advised to share them with your supervisor(s) as it can support them in giving you appropriate supervision

General Information

Target Group: The assessment is for PhD candidates at the beginning of their PhD assignment at Wageningen University and Research BEFORE the go/no go decision is made. (For PhD candidates after the go/no go we recommend the course Career Assessments.)
Group size: Individual
Course duration: Two online tests which you fill in by yourself (40 minutes), followed by a personal coaching session with an assessment consultant of 1,5 hour
Language: Assessments tests are available in English and in Dutch
Credit points & certificate: 0,3 ECTS & You may use the front page of the assessment made as proof of participation, this then is also your certificate.
Self-study hours: 0
consultants:

Geraldine Sinnema and Bernadette Egelmeers (Een wereld van verschil. In English: A world of difference)

www.eenwereldvanverschil.nu  (Noloc Registered Career Coaches)
Venue:

On Campus or in our office in the Agro-BTC building, a 5 minute bike ride away from Campus. Online is also possible.

You can plan an appointment with the coach when your registration has been accepted. Just read the acceptance email carefully on how to schedule your own appointment.

Programme

After your registration has been accepted you will receive an acceptance email including instructions on how to schedule your online personality test and a competence test yourself. Please schedule as soon as possible to secure your spot. 

Within four weeks after completing the questionnaires you will be invited for a personal meeting of 1.5 hours. You will receive your test report before the meeting. After the coaching session you will receive a final report with conclusions and recommendation. The assessment report will ONLY be send to the candidate for reasons of confidentiality. However, it is beneficial for candidates to share the outcome of their report with their supervisor(s) as it provides insight on how the candidate can be best supervised.

Fee

1) Reduced fee: PhD candidates of Wageningen University who are in the first two years of their PhD study with an approved Training and Supervision Plan (TSP) who are registered at one of the WU graduate schools (EPS, PE&RC, VLAG, WASS, WIAS, WIMEK).
PhD candidates who are in the third or fourth year and are a member of one of the above mentioned graduate schools can participate for €120 if they have a valid reason for participating in the assessment. This reason must be confirmed by the education coordinator of the graduate school the participant belongs to.

€ 125,-
University fee: All other PhD candidates

€ 620,-

Cancellation condition:

Before making the tests, cancellation fee is free of charge. After this date you will be charged with the University fee (€ 620,-). 
Note: When you have a valid reason (circumstances beyond your control) to cancel, you will be charged the reduced fee. In this case a written statement of your supervisor/superior is required.

Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us. Someone else may still be able to take your spot.

Information

For more information please contact wgscourses@wur.nl