The organization protects the interests of PhD students connected to TU/e and all 900 are automatically members. In May 2008 52 percent of PhD candidates were Dutch, and 48 percent were non-Dutch. Nevertheless, PromoVE is finding it hard to get Dutch board members. “We need at least one or two Dutch people”, says the new chairman of the board Yedendra Shrinivasan from India. “There is still a lot of correspondence in Dutch, and there are the PNN (Promovendi Netwerk Nederland) meetings in Dutch every few months. Even if your Dutch is good, it’s still hard to grasp some of the difficult concepts discussed there. Currently only one of our six board members is Dutch.”

During the past year PromoVE has asked for and obtained more freedom in scheduling defenses. “Previously, defenses were held at 4 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays. Now, it is at least possible to schedule defenses at non-standard times, such as at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, and at non-standard locations such as the Blauwe Zaal, the Van Abbe Museum and the Zwarte Doos. This requires special approval from your first supervisor, the Dean and the Rector Magnificus”, Australian outgoing board secretary Nicole Ronald explains.

Annual evaluations
The PromoVE board talks to the Rector as needed about various issues. “We are currently waiting to hear from him about our request for more equality in annual evaluations of PhD candidates across Departments. Some people are asked to fill out a form and maybe answer a few questions verbally, others are asked to prepare an official presentation. After the first year, it varies. Some are evaluated every year, others are not”, says Ronald, who had to do a presentation after her first year. “I had an interview with my supervisor and filled in a form. I found the feedback very useful”, says Shrinivasan.

During the last academic year the PhD students asked for and received extra funds to improve their website. “We want it to be a forum and contact point for everyone working for a PhD. We feel this infrastructure is important”, says Ronald.
Another point on the PromoVE wish list is a TU/e officer who helps PhD candidates with practical matters in the Netherlands. “Currently, every Department has its own system. Everyone gets some initial help when they arrive, but various difficulties can crop up along the way. In my case, I needed to do my taxes. That’s hard when all the forms are in Dutch and you have no idea how the system works”, Shrinivasan explains. “I would say a well-organized Department makes it possible for its PhD candidates to focus on their work and helps solve any practical problems.” Ronald adds: “We would like to have someone to go to at the TU/e level. We are personnel, after all.”/.

More information at www.tue.nl/promove.