TSP
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Training and Supervision Plan (TSP)
Graduate School for Humanities
Please read the information below, fill out the form, and hand it in with the Graduate
School Office.
1 Information
1.1 General
The training and supervision plan (TSP) serves as a framework for the PhD research
project. It aims to guide PhD researchers in performing their tasks. The TSP also forms
the basis for the annual performance appraisals and (also) for the novice assessment at
the end of the first year employment contract (for PhD researchers employed by Tilburg
University).
The TSP includes general as well as specific information. In it, the research project is
specified in term of problem definition, objectives and methods. It also contains the
seminar and course work to be completed by the PhD researcher, as well as the
arrangements with the thesis supervisor(s) and other advisors. If applicable, it also
mentions any other tasks to be performed, such as teaching tasks and the supervision of
Master’s theses. The TSP is set up in communication between PhD researcher,
supervisor and (if applicable) daily advisor. This offers PhD researchers the opportunity
to indicate their wishes with regard to training and to detail the (maximum) teaching
load.1
PhD research activities and PhD supervision total at least 90% of the appointment
annually; course work is concentrated in the first two years of the appointment and is part
of the 90% research appointment. PhD researchers employed by the University may be
required to perform teaching tasks up to a maximum of 10%. If at all, this will take place
normally in the last two years of their appointment. In carrying out teaching tasks, the
PhD researcher is supervised by a senior member of the academic staff. Warranted
research time and limited teaching loads are to be respected under all circumstances.
PhD researchers are not expected to perform administrative tasks (excepting councilrelated tasks, and tasks in aid of the Tilburg University PhD Researcher Platform).
Teaching commitments by non-employed PhD researchers require permission from the
Graduate School.
1.2 Staying focused and remaining flexible
After the first year, the TSP can be adjusted annually to provide a more detailed
framework for the research that is to be carried out in the subsequent year(s). The
agreements made are signed by the thesis supervisor, daily advisor, and PhD
researcher. It is understood that activities and deliverables are foreseeable one year
ahead. A good plan is a guide to stay focused amidst a manifold of distracting threats,
while it remains sensitive to unexpected opportunities.
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The PhD appointment carries with it that 10% of the appointment time is available to PhD researchers for
activities other than research time. Research time includes supervision, training, as well as attending formal
programs, reading and writing, communication and exchange, plus (during the first two years) course work.
TSP
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The Graduate School stimulates PhD researchers to spend a shorter or longer period of
their research time abroad. This may serve a variety of purposes: to carry out research,
to take courses, or to present interim research results. Please specify below if any such
periods abroad are scheduled. PhD researchers need the permission of their supervisors
if they prefer to carry out part of their research at another institution than that of their
supervisor(s).
The Graduate School expects PhD researchers to have two meetings a month with their
advisors, and three meetings a year with their thesis supervisor(s). But this is a thumb
rule, leaving room for fine-tuning on an individual basis, either specified or left
unspecified. In both cases, Ph researcher as well as advisors or supervisors are obliged
to report any complaints about how supervision arrangements work out in practice.
1.3 Performance appraisals and Novice assessments
There will be Performance appraisals each year, for each PhD researcher who is under an
obligation to complete a PhD thesis. The appraisals will be reported to the authorities of
the funding bodies (including Heads of Department) and the programme leaders involved.
The objective of the appraisal is to assess the PhD researcher-employee’s ability to deliver
good quality research within the remaining period of time. The basis for the appraisal are:
- an updated training and supervision plan;
- a paper that can be expected to be publishable after revision in a peer reviewed
academic journal;
- or a similar deliverable, in accordance with the conventions of the relevant
discipline;
- a performance report by the researcher, seen by the supervisor
- an interview with the researcher.
In principle, PhD researchers employed by Tilburg University are given a temporary
employment contract for a maximum duration of one year. This employment contract
expires legally. For them, the Performance appraisal takes the form of formal Novice
Assessment. This assessment entails a ‘go/no go’ decision to accomplish the project within
the required (remaining) period of time. If there is positive ‘go’ decision, there will be a
subsequent contract of employment. Novice assessment takes place at around three
months before the end of the one year contract. It is impossible to end a PhD researcher’s
employment contract after one year for reasons that are not content- and quality related
(e.g., budgetary reasons). Novice Assessments are given by the Head of Department,
(other) Performance appraisals are issued by a senior researcher in the department
directly responsible for the project, as approved by the Graduate School. The thesis
supervisor is always heard in this procedure.
TSP
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Training and Supervision Plan (TSP)
Graduate School for Humanities
2 Form
Please provide the following details and attach a project description using the format below,
including a description of the project’s methodological approach (500 word max). If the Graduate
School has these details already, they will be reproduced here for your convenience. You may
take the occasion to update them.
Note: For NWO projects, please enclose the project application, as well. In this case you
do not need to complete Part 1 Personal particulars and project details.
Part 1 Personal particulars and project details
Personal particulars
Name:
Administration number:
Project details
Title of project:
Research group:
Thesis supervisor(s):
Daily advisor(s):
Problem definition and objectives (150 words max):
Methods to be used (150 words max):
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Part 2 Plan details
This TSP plan nr.
nr 1
1. Work plan
Please detail your research work plan in periods of 3 months for the upcoming year.
Quarter 1
a. activity
b. deliverable
Quarter 2
a. activity
b. deliverable
Quarter 3
a. activity
b. deliverable
Quarter 4
a. activity
b. deliverable
2. Training plan
In order to put together your training program, the Graduate School for Humanities has put at
your disposal an Educational/Training module. As soon as you are enrolled at the Graduate
School of Humanities, you receive a link to your personal digital portfolio to which only you,
your (co-) supervisors and the Graduate School have access.
For a complete list of the courses, please check our website:
https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/research/humanities/newgraduateschool/phdcandidates/internal/training/.
You should not dedicate more than 60 ECTS credits (or 1680 hours) to attending courses
and your teaching load should not exceed 10% of the employment. The Educational/Training
module is meant as a framework and the ECTS credits or hours are a mere indication. It is
indeed up to you, together with your (co-)supervisors, to complete your portfolio in such a
way that it will not only be helpful to a successful completion of your PhD but also in your
future career path.
The costs deriving from the tailor-made training program you have put together will have to
be approved by your supervisor together with the department head. (Please see in ANNEX,
a template for the format to be used in order to obtain approval of the budget)
3. Supervision
Please indicate either of the following options
Specified
Frequency:
/ month
Research notes / papers / results to be dropped at least
days before meeting.
Feedback to be given at most
days after meeting.
Any complaints in this respect will be immediately reported in writing to the Director of the
Graduate School or the Confidential Advisor of the Graduate School.
TSP
Unspecified
It is agreed between supervisor(s) and PhD researcher that they will meet regularly and
at the request of either of them, duly detailed in good communication, and that any
complaints in this respect will be immediately reported in writing to the Director of the
Graduate School or the Confidential Advisor of the Graduate School.
1) Date
Thesis supervisor’s signature
2) Date
Day-to-day advisor’s signature
3) Date
PhD researcher’s signature
Please hand in the Training and Supervision Plan with the Graduate School Office
(room D309 or in the pigeon hole at the third floor), 4 weeks after appointment.
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Annex: budget for the Educational / Training module
Name of PhD candidate:
Costs
A. General Skills (max.10 ECTS)
- Name of course + justify your choice
B. Disciplinary courses (max. 15 ECTS)
- Name of course + justify your choice
C. Seminars/conferences/Stay abroad (max. 15 ECTS)
- Name of course + justify your choice
D. Teaching and Didactics (max. 24 ECTS)
- Name of course + justify your choice
Name & Signature for approval:
Department Head