What is the council?

And what do we do?

The PhD students’ council exists of PhD students that are connected to the graduate school Experimental Plant Sciences through their research groups (see members). Each person represents their research group and brings forward the opinion of that group. In the ultimate case all six universities and all 28 research-groups are represented. Unfortunately many groups still do not have a representative to speak for them.

We have 4-6 meetings a year, in which we discuss relevant cases for PhD students, such as the education program (new and offered courses, seminars etc.), optimal facilities, good supervision and possibilities to carry out your research. We plead for the interest of all EPS PhD students.

In EPS board meetings and in meetings from the education and research committees, our chair represents us. Through this way our voice is heard and we have influence on new decisions made by EPS. We have a good interaction with especially the education committee, since they set value on our advice. Usually they ask us for feedback on courses, theme days etc.

Each year we also organize the PhD students' day, where we give equal attention to the scientific and social parts to inprove interactions between PhD students from different groups within EPS.

Our aims for 2003 are to:

* make a new draft of TSP and monitoring form
* improve the communication/relationship between PhD student and supervisor
* standardize facilities for each PhD student in all laboratories
* organization of introduction day for new PhD students
* organization of the PhD students’ day 2004