Promood, the Delft association of PhD students, started an e-mail group for foreign PhD students as a result of a recent survey.Most foreign PhD students would like to have more social contacts with other people within the university, according to a recent survey by Promood.
“Many people from outside the Netherlands don’t have a lot of friends here and are therefore open to new contacts,” says Reimo Nickel, of Promood. Consequently, Promood started an email group and organised a gathering at the Beestenmarkt. “We plan to meet more regularly,” Nickel says.
Besides the need for social contacts, the survey also revealed that most foreign PhD students experienced problems arranging housing, insurance and visas, and finding information about these matters when they arrived. “For most people it is difficult to find a house in Delft. Perhaps the university could offer temporary flats for employees while they search suitable accommodation.”
Some PhD students had to pay more money than necessary because they weren’t aware that the OHRA insurance company offers a cheaper health insurance to TU-employees, while other students lost out because they weren’t aware that TU Delft pays part of your insurance costs if you fill in the right form. Some of those surveyed also suggested that PhD students should be allowed to follow Dutch courses during office hours.
“PhD students should have more time available for Dutch courses,” Nickel says,”because Dutch is important for everyday contacts within their working places, where Dutch people in general speak Dutch with each other.”
Another problem foreign PhD students encounter is that TU Delft’s official letters are almost always in Dutch. Furthermore, PhD students are not well informed about their rights and obligations. It’s also unclear whether each PhD students needs an education and coaching plan (Dutch abbreviation: OBP). “Several faculties seem to handle the importance of the OBP very differently,” Nickel says.
In the autumn, Promood and the Executive Staff Education, Research and Student policies will publish a detailed report about the questionnaire.
People who want to join the e-mail group for foreign PhD students can write to: R.Nickel@offshore.tudelft.nl
Promood, the Delft association of PhD students, started an e-mail group for foreign PhD students as a result of a recent survey.
Most foreign PhD students would like to have more social contacts with other people within the university, according to a recent survey by Promood. “Many people from outside the Netherlands don’t have a lot of friends here and are therefore open to new contacts,” says Reimo Nickel, of Promood. Consequently, Promood started an email group and organised a gathering at the Beestenmarkt. “We plan to meet more regularly,” Nickel says.
Besides the need for social contacts, the survey also revealed that most foreign PhD students experienced problems arranging housing, insurance and visas, and finding information about these matters when they arrived. “For most people it is difficult to find a house in Delft. Perhaps the university could offer temporary flats for employees while they search suitable accommodation.”
Some PhD students had to pay more money than necessary because they weren’t aware that the OHRA insurance company offers a cheaper health insurance to TU-employees, while other students lost out because they weren’t aware that TU Delft pays part of your insurance costs if you fill in the right form. Some of those surveyed also suggested that PhD students should be allowed to follow Dutch courses during office hours.
“PhD students should have more time available for Dutch courses,” Nickel says,”because Dutch is important for everyday contacts within their working places, where Dutch people in general speak Dutch with each other.”
Another problem foreign PhD students encounter is that TU Delft’s official letters are almost always in Dutch. Furthermore, PhD students are not well informed about their rights and obligations. It’s also unclear whether each PhD students needs an education and coaching plan (Dutch abbreviation: OBP). “Several faculties seem to handle the importance of the OBP very differently,” Nickel says.
In the autumn, Promood and the Executive Staff Education, Research and Student policies will publish a detailed report about the questionnaire.
People who want to join the e-mail group for foreign PhD students can write to: R.Nickel@offshore.tudelft.nl
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