Competence development

Becoming a good Assistant, Associate and Full Professor requires developing the right competences. But as individuals differ, so do their development needs. That is why each academic in the trajectory of Career Paths in Science and Engineering has their own personal development plan (click for the format). It is up to the staff member to incorporate courses and other training opportunities into their personal development plan, in consultation with their supervisor. The criteria of the staff member’s career path should serve as the starting point for these choices, in particular those of the staff member’s focus domain and the organization domain. The staff member can also ask advice from the directors of the research institute, their mentor, HR, or take an assessment test in order to identify their development opportunities.

Mandatory elements

While each staff member has their own personal development plan, it is important to note that some elements must be incorporated in every personal development plan. All staff members must obtain a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) within the first 3 years of their appointment and staff members that supervise PhD students must follow the course Supervision Excellence at the University of Groningen. Furthermore, Assistant Professors are expected to take the Academic Leadership 1 course at the beginning of their career to help them with their new responsibilities and tasks, whereas Associate Professors and Full Professors are required to have completed Academic Leadership 2. For those who do not yet have sufficient command of Dutch or English it is compulsory to undertake activities to improve their language skills.

Training institutions

The University of Groningen offers many courses and other training opportunities via the University’s Corporate Academy. This includes the aforementioned courses, but also courses on personal leadership, project management, writing and presentation skills geared towards fundraising, conducting R&D interviews, professional recruitment and selection, media skills, societal impact, intercultural competences, and various advanced didactic courses, such as the Senior Teaching Qualification. Staff members can also select training opportunities provided by external organizations. In consultation with the HR advisor or supervisors, it is possible to opt for guidance from an external coach for the development of specific competencies. Courses and other training opportunities are in principle paid for from a central FSE budget.