2010: Doctoral and postdoctoral professional development in agricultural and life sciences - challenges for the next decade

held at Ghent University, Gent, Belgium, from 7-9 April 2010

THE CONFERENCE THEMES

The problems and issues in agriculture and life sciences are becoming more and more global, international and multi-disciplinary as proven, among others, by the recent food crisis, the climate and other environmental problems, the globalization of food standards, the increased interactions between commodity and energy markets, the globalised risks of plant and animal diseases, and contaminations.

This requires the development of a more interdisciplinary and international perspective in doctoral and post-doctoral, early stage researchers, in agricultural and life sciences, as well as more interaction with non-academic stakeholders. Increased mobility, cooperation among higher education institutes and exchange with non academic stakeholders may provide opportunities in this respect, but also pose important challenges to higher educational institutes and for the organisation of graduate schools.

The main themes of the Conference are:

  • University Strategic Plans in support of early stage researchers’ careers (doctoral and post-doctoral staff) and their implementation
  • Skills set development of doctoral graduates and post-doctoral staff
  • The development of doctoral/graduate research schools

See the Presentations