Activities

Activities (co-)organized by PrOUt

Petition for psychological support for PhDs at Utrecht University

Petition banner

In the past months we co-organized a PhD mental health symposium, and we wrote a letter of 10 recommendations for PhD wellbeing to the UU board (see here the response of the board). As a follow-up we decided to start a petition for psychological support for PhDs at Utrecht University.

Petition

To the board of Utrecht University,

We, the undersigned, want to ask for psychological support for PhD candidates at Utrecht University. This request is supported by Prout (PhD network Utrecht) and UPP (Utrecht PhD Party). This is a follow-up of the PhD mental health symposium organized on January 25th 2018 with about 130 participants, and of the 10-recommendations letter for PhD well-being sent to the UU board in March this year.

It has been repeatedly shown that PhDs are at high risk of mental health issues, such as depression, burnout, unhappiness, anxiety and high levels of stress. While currently PhDs at UU can consult with a staff confidential advisor and with social workers, this is not enough when it comes to mental health.

PhDs should have free access to psychological support, including individual consultations with psychologists, walk-in hours, group sessions, and courses addressing the psychological challenges of doing a PhD (e.g. stress, motivation, work-life balance, etc.).

UU can follow the example of other Dutch universities. TU Delft appointed a PhD psychologist, and UvA made the student psychological services available to PhDs. Offering low-threshold access to psychological support improves employee wellbeing, and prevents PhD dropout and delay, compensating potential costs.

We urge the UU board to take action and provide psychological support for all UU PhDs.

 

Sign it on this link, or here below!

Posted on by proutadmin

PhD Movies Screening in Filmtheater ’t Hoogt

WHEN
Wednesday 27 January 2016 from 17:45 to 21:00
WHERE
Filmtheater ‘t Hoogt – Hoogt 4, 3512 GW, Utrecht
WHAT
“Piled Higher and Deeper: Still in Grad School” is the sequel to the film adaptation of the popular comic strip “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham. The film takes a smart and humorous look at the world of academia through the eyes of four grad students, and features real academics (including a Nobel Prize winner!) in many of the roles. Click here to view the trailer.
The PhD Movie 1 takes a humorous and poignant look at four graduate students as they grapple with research, being a teaching assistant and finding balance in their over-worked lives. The PhD Movie 2 looks at themes of competition in research, overcoming writer’s block, and finding your voice.
Please join The PhD Movies screening on 27 January 2016 organised by Prout | PhD Network Utrecht and the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS).
Sign up now! The event is free for PhD candidates. Registration is limited to 130 seats, first come first serve!

PhDMovie

Posted on by proutadmin

Prout lectures on income taxes, PhD candidates can save money!

On 22 April, Prout organized two tax lectures for PhD candidates. For international PhD candidates, Dennis Reins and Patricia van Dam from TaxDirect  discussed the 30% tax ruling, the M form, and costs that can be deducted from income tax. Marianne Both from Both advocatuur gave a lecture for Dutch PhD candidates.

Many PhD candidates can save a lot of money by applying for middeling, as they experience a strong fluctuation in income when they start their PhD. To find out more about this arrangement, follow this link!

 

Posted on by proutadmin