DOCC transferable skill training programme
(2019-2024, status: project ended and closed)
The interdisciplinary environment of the programme supported the fellows in communication, method evaluation and real life applications, thus avoiding field-specific silo mentality, and increasing chances on the job market.
Specific courses on general transferable skills tailored for the DOCC fellows
The DOCC programme has also offered elective innovative courses with a focus on connecting "modelling" with the
"real world". Exemplary courses by DOCC team members and invited guest lecturers, recommended to all fellows were e.g.:
- "Scientific methods and skeptical inquiry in research and everyday life" (2 h/w seminar, in 1st year, 2 ECTS):
General introduction to philosophy and methodology of science, research ethics and open science; with an emphasis on methods to establish "real" trustable facts against alleged un- and anti-scientific claims (e.g. on climate and vaccine denial, pseudo-medicine, "fake journals", or "alternative facts").
- "The philosophy of scientific computing" (2 h/w seminar, 2nd year, 2 ECTS):
Simulation as the "third pillar" of science, its connection with classical methods of theory and experiment and with the "real world"; including topics of reproducibility, open data, validation and verification, and uncertainty quantification.
- "After academia: reports from modelling & simulation alumni" (2 h/w course, in 2nd year, 2 ECTS):
A series of invited presentations and discussions by the mentors of the programme or other former PhD graduates or postdocs from the groups participating in the programme, who are now working outside of the academic sector in industry or other organisations; reporting on their present field of work, technical and transferable skills necessary in their job, and giving valuable insider tips for career development.
- "Science communication for scientific modelling and computation" (2 h/w course, in 3rd year, 2 ECTS):
Methods and practical exercises (e.g. meaningful visualisation, press writing, PR ethics, public presentations, interviews and discussions) for internal and external communication; focus on public communication of critical modelling and simulation issues (e.g. complexity, approximation, or uncertainty).
- "Science blogging" (2-day workshop, in 2nd year): Dedicated workshop to help fellows set up a "DOCC Blog".
Training on non-research oriented transferable skills
Additionally, fellows acquired complementary "soft" skills in project management, scientific writing and editing, open science, team working, science communication, presentation and teaching.
UIBK maintains a large list of courses in "generic competences" (soft skills) for PhD students, which were also open for attendance of DOCC fellows, such as presentation techniques, writing skills, technical English, negotiation methods, gender awareness, acquisition of third-party funds, project management and entrepreneurship. In addition, the Staff Development Department of the university had support the DOCC fellows to organize a suitable training programme of complementary skills. The project.service.office provides courses in project management, third party funding, grant writing, IPR, ethical aspects and good scientific practice. The Transfer Center of the university offers education in business plan development (how to work with a business model canvas), supports scientists comprehensively in the process of founding a company, offers workshops for job application writing and prepares students for conducting job interviews.
The implemented relevant PhD curricula at UIBK require compulsory participation in a course on gender awareness or gender aspects in science, which also applies to all DOCC fellows (in accordance with H2020 rules).
The fellows were also able to participate in the vast variety of language courses offered by the university's Language Centre. We have encouraged fellows to acquire basic language skills in German, thus fostering social integration in Austria.
The thesis committes and fellows have jointly chosen courses of this list which best fit the interest and career development plans of the fellow.
Funding
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 847476.
