On 21st November 2019, the fourth edition of the National PhD Welcome Day gathered doctoral candidates from all disciplines who recently started their PhD in Luxembourg. They met at the Halle des Poches à Fonte on the Belval Campus to get information and advice for their PhD, network with stakeholders in doctoral training and socialise with their peers.

Stimulating exchange on the PhD

After a welcome speech by Prof Ulf Nehrbass, CEO of LIH, who asked the doctoral candidates to reflect on their expectations and the skills they aim to acquire during the PhD, the attendees could listen to short presentations about the Luxembourg research landscape, the National Quality Framework for Doctoral Training (NQFDT), doctoral education at the University of Luxembourg and the importance of research integrity and ethics.

Next they were invited to a tool kit session titled “All you need for your PhD”. In an interactive setting in small groups, they had the opportunity to choose among 13 different subjects exposed by experts, providing them with relevant tools for a successful PhD. The programme closed with an inspiring keynote talk by Dr Robert Mann, Luxembourg’s first professional Badminton player, who revealed the common skills that one needs to have to achieve a PhD or to reach goals as a high performance sportive.

Following an informative afternoon, the participants joined in some fun activities and socialising over a tricky knowledge quiz moderated by the young researcher association LuxDoc asbl, drinks, food and pop-rock music.