The Posthumus Training Program

THE N.W. POSTHUMUS INSTITUTE PhD TRAINING PROGRAM 2014-2015
General Board (members and substitute members):
Prof.dr. B. Blondé (UA)
Prof.dr. U. Bosma (IISH)
Prof.dr. P.J.E.M. van Dam (VU)
Prof.dr. C.A. Davids (VU)
Dr. M. Davids (TUe)
Prof.dr. I. Devos (UGent)
Prof.dr. M.G.J. Duijvendak (RUG)
Prof.dr. T.L.M. Engelen (RU)
Drs. H.A. Feenstra (UvA), PhD
representative
Prof.dr. E. Frankema (WU)
Prof.dr. I. Goddeeris (KULeuven)
Prof.dr. H. Greefs (UA)
Dr. K. Hofmeester (IISH)
Drs. B. Horemans (VUB), PhD representative
Prof.dr. H.J. de Jong (RUG)
Prof.dr. J.P.B. Jonker (UvA)
Drs. S. Kerckhofs (KU Leuven), PhD
representative
Prof.dr. H.A.M. Klemann (EUR)
Prof.dr. A. Knotter (SHCL)
Prof.dr. J. Kok (RU), chair
Dr. C.M. Lesger (UvA)
Prof.dr. L.A.C.J. Lucassen (UL)
Prof.dr. L. van Molle (KULeuven)
Prof.dr. R. Oldenziel (TUe)
Dr. R.F.J. Paping (RUG)
Drs. A.M. de Pleijt (UU), PhD representative
Prof.dr. M. Prak (UU)
Dr. W.J.M.J. Rutten (SHCL)
Prof.dr. M.L.J.C. Schrover (UL), Executive
Committee
Dr. A.J. Schuurman (WU)
Prof.dr. E. Vanhaute (UGent)
Dr. G. Vermeesch (VUB)
Prof.dr. A. Winter (VUB), Executive
Committee
Prof.dr. J.L. van Zanden (UU)
Examination Committee
Education Committee
Dr. B. Gales (RUG)
Prof.dr. H. Greefs (UA)
Dr. L.J. Touwen (UL)
Dr. A.M. Molema (FA)
Dr. A. Schmidt (UL)
Prof.dr. A. Winter (VUB)
Dr. B. Wubs (EUR)
Two PhD respresentatives (vacant)
Scientific Director, advisor of the General Board and the Executive Committee
Dr. L.J. Touwen (UL)
Education Program Director, advisor of the General Board, the Examination Committee and the
Education Committee
Dr. C.J. Zuijderduijn (UL)
Office Manager
Drs. R. Boerrigter (UL)
Address
N.W. Posthumus Institute
Leiden University, Institute for History
Faculty of Humanities
P.O. Box 9515
2300 RA Leiden
The Netherlands
phone: 00-31-(0)71-527 2947
e-mail: nwp@hum.leidenuniv.nl
http://hum.leiden.edu/posthumus/
Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 3
2. RESEARCH PROGRAMS OF THE N.W. POSTHUMUS INSTITUTE.................................................... 4
3. THE PHD TRAINING PROGRAM OF THE N.W. POSTHUMUS INSTITUTE IN BRIEF .................. 5
3.1 AIMS OF THE PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................. 5
3.2 THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE PHD TRAINING PROGRAM ........................................................................ 5
4. IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS FOR PHD STUDENTS OF THE N.W. POSTHUMUS INSTITUTE ... 7
4.1 EXAMINATION COMMITTEE ........................................................................................................................... 7
4.2 EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR ................................................................................................................. 7
4.3 EDUCATION COMMITTEE ............................................................................................................................... 7
4.4 PHD COUNCIL ............................................................................................................................................... 7
4.5 ESTER NETWORK ......................................................................................................................................... 7
5. REGISTRATION AND ADMISSION OF PHD STUDENTS ...................................................................... 8
6. THE PHD TRAINING PROGRAM OF THE N.W. POSTHUMUS INSTITUTE IN DETAIL ............... 9
6.1 SEMINAR 1: MY PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL ...................................................................................................... 9
6.2 MINOR PAPER & SEMINAR 2: WORK IN PROGRESS ........................................................................................ 9
6.3 MAJOR PAPER & RESEARCH DESIGN COURSE ............................................................................................. 10
6.4 INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 11
6.5 ADVANCED TRAINING ................................................................................................................................. 11
7. RESEARCH TRAINING ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................... 13
7.1 MASTERCLASSES (ECTS 2)......................................................................................................................... 13
7.2 ESTER ADVANCED SEMINARS (ECTS 4) ................................................................................................... 13
7.3 ANNUAL PHD CONFERENCE (ECTS 2) ........................................................................................................ 13
7.4 RESEARCH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................ 13
7.5 EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................. 14
APPENDIX: PLANNING BASIC TRAINING 2014-2015 (PRELIMINARY) ............................................. 15
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1. Introduction
The N.W. Posthumus Institute is the Research School for Economic and Social History in
the Netherlands and Flanders, including research focusing on non-Western history,
world history and social-cultural history. The Institute is named after Prof.dr. Nicolaas
Wilhelmus Posthumus (1880-1960), the first professor to hold a chair in economic
history in the Netherlands. He was the initiator of an impressive number of institutions
which today still figure prominently in historical research, such as the International
Institute for Social History (IISH) in Amsterdam.
The N.W. Posthumus Institute was founded in 1988 as an interuniversity training
program for Dutch PhD students. In 1994, the collaborating universities decided to turn
the existing organization into an Interuniversity Research Institute. In the same year the
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) accredited the Institute
formally as a Research School for a period of five years. A number of Flemish
universities joined the N.W. Posthumus Institute in 2002 and 2011.
The Institute for History of Leiden University houses the administrative office of the
N.W. Posthumus Institute since 1 January 2010. At this moment, fifteen organizations
cooperate in the N.W. Posthumus Institute: three Belgian faculties, ten Dutch faculties,
the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam and the Centre of Social
History of Limburg in Maastricht. KU Leuven joined the Posthumus Institute as a
candidate member in 2012. Since 1993 the participating faculties and organizations pay
an annual contribution in order to finance the PhD training program and other research
activities.
At this moment, over 300 PhD students have completed the basic training for
researchers of the N.W. Posthumus Institute. A survey of the current projects being
undertaken by the young scholars of the Institute can be found at the Posthumus
website. PhD students of the faculties or historical institutes participating in the N.W.
Posthumus Institute can, and usually will, take part in the research training of the N.W.
Posthumus Institute and remain a member of the Institute up until the completion of
their dissertation. PhD students from non-participating institutions can also join the
program, but have to pay a fee. The PhD training program starts with the first seminar,
which is called ‘My project in a nutshell’ (See Chapter 6).
From the start internationalisation was a priority of the Institute. In 1990, the N.W.
Posthumus Institute took the initiative to create a European network for postgraduate
research training. The network is called ESTER: European graduate School for Training
in Economic and social historical Research. Around 50 European universities belong to
this network, which organizes the yearly Research Design Course for starting PhD
students and Advanced Seminars for PhD students further along their research.
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2. Research Programs of the N.W. Posthumus Institute
There is no sharp dividing line between schooling and research. The integration of
young and established researchers is important according to the Posthumus philosophy.
The Posthumus Institute is not only a training network, but also an environment where
researchers interact and cooperate. In order to facilitate such interaction, the
Posthumus Institute has constituted five research programs.
1. Economy and Society of the Pre-industrial Low Countries in a Comparative
Perspective
Directors: dr. Jessica Dijkman (Utrecht University, j.dijkman@uu.nl) and dr. Wouter
Ryckbosch (University of Antwerp, wouter.ryckbosch@uantwerpen.be)
2. Drivers and Carriers of Globalisation: Technology, Economics and Business in
Transnational and Comparative Perspective
Directors: dr. Jutta Bolt (University of Groningen, j.bolt@rug.nl), dr. Torsten Feys (Ghent
University, torsten.feys@UGent.be) and dr.ir. Erik van der Vleuten (University of
Technology Eindhoven, e.b.a.v.d.vleuten@tue.nl)
3. People, Space & Places in History
Directors: dr. Paul Brusse (Utrecht University, p.brusse@uu.nl) and dr. Tim Soens
(University of Antwerp, tim.soens@ua.ac.be)
4. Life-course, Family and Labour
Directors: prof.dr. Isabelle Devos (Ghent University, isabelle.devos@ugent.be) and dr.
Richard Zijdeman (IISG, richard.zijdeman@iisg.nl)
5. Social History of Communities
Directors: prof.dr. Marlou Schrover (Leiden University,
m.l.j.c.schrover@hum.leidenuniv.nl) and dr. Griet Vermeesch (Vrije Universiteit Brussel,
griet.vermeesch@vub.ac.be)
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3. The PhD training program of the N.W. Posthumus Institute in brief
3.1 Aims of the program
With its PhD training, the N.W. Posthumus Institute contributes to the successful
completion of dissertation projects in the domain of Economic and Social History. The
success of a PhD project is determined by the quality of the dissertation and the
duration of the PhD project. Normally, projects are designed to be completed in four
years. The N.W. Posthumus Institute contributes to the formation of the next generation
of excellent researchers and teachers, who guarantee the progress of the discipline.
In first instance, the Institute wants to realize these aims by enlarging and deepening
the knowledge of economic or social history which was taught to the PhD students
during their Bachelor and Master studies. The background knowledge of PhD students
differs. The PhD students are the scholars of the future. Therefore, a broad knowledge of
the field is important in order both to contribute to the scientific progress within the
field of economic and social history in general and to successfully transfer knowledge to
students and the general public within and outside academia.
Secondly, the N.W. Posthumus Institute hopes to support PhD projects by encouraging
PhD students to write and present their projects from the start. The PhD students are
expected to write a series of papers, which will be presented and criticized during
seminars. The individual projects form the main focus of the Posthumus training
program. The program mainly invests in furthering the development of the starting PhD
students and enabling them to continue as independent and self-confident researchers.
Finally, the N.W. Posthumus Institute intends to realize its aims by integrating the PhD
students into the community of Dutch and Flemish historians specializing in Economic
and Social History and by stimulating the PhD students to engage in international
activities (the Research Design Courses and Advanced Seminars of ESTER, summer
schools, conferences) and become part of international networks.
3.2 The general structure of the PhD training program
The PhD training program of the N.W. Posthumus Institute covers the entire period of
the dissertation project. In practice, the program of the N.W. Posthumus Institute
focuses on the first three years of the project. These three years can be divided into two
parts: the Basic Training, roughly the first year, and the Advanced Training, which is
almost entirely tailor- made to suit the individual interests and requirements of the PhD
student.
The Basic Training consists of three seminars in the course of the first year:
•
•
•
Seminar 1: My project in a nutshell
Seminar 2: Work in Progress
Seminar 3: Research Design Course
The Basic Training will be formally closed by an Individual Assessment, in which two
fellows of the Posthumus Institute will evaluate the development of the PhD student and
his/her project. In case of a positive evaluation, the PhD student receives the Basic
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Training Diploma during the annual Posthumus Conference.
After the Basic Training, PhD students work individually on their Advanced Training.
Once they have met the criteria, they apply for the Certificate, by handing over their
personal dossier. The dossier will be assessed by the Education Program Director. In
case of doubt, he sends the dossier to the Examination Committee for a second opinion.
6
4. Important institutions for PhD students of the N.W. Posthumus Institute
4.1 Examination Committee
The General Board of the N.W. Posthumus Institute has assigned the task to supervise
the PhD training program to the Examination Committee. The committee decides upon
admission to the Posthumus training program. The committee also advises the
Education Program Director in case of any doubts whether PhD students qualify for
both the N.W. Posthumus diploma and the certificate. PhD students can request the
examination regulations at the office of the Institute. These regulations describe the
procedures to be followed in case PhD students do not agree with a decision and want
to appeal.
4.2 Education Program Director
The Program Director, dr. C.J. (Jaco) Zuijderduijn (c.j.zuijderduijn@hum.leidenuniv.nl),
is responsible for the PhD training program on behalf of the N.W. Posthumus Institute.
PhD students can contact him in matters related to their schooling and initial career as
researcher, both during the Basic Training and afterwards.
4.3 Education Committee
The Education Committee evaluates the PhD training program. This committee
discusses practice and alternatives with the Program Director. It can advise the board
on changes in the curriculum and recommend new initiatives. The committee consists
of fellows of the N.W. Posthumus Institute and the two PhD representatives.
4.4 PhD council
Every PhD student of the N.W. Posthumus Institute is a member of the PhD council. The
PhD council selects the two PhD representatives, who advise the General Board of the
N.W. Posthumus Institute. The council discusses all matters relevant for the PhD
students. The council meets annually, usually during the PhD conference. The PhD
representatives chair the PhD council.
4.5 ESTER network
Internationalisation is a priority of the N.W. Posthumus Institute and international
activities figure prominently in the PhD training program. The international Research
Design Course is the third seminar of the Basic Training of the N.W. Posthumus Institute
in which also students and experts from other countries than Belgium and the
Netherlands participate. Formally, this course is organized by the ESTER network, the
European graduate School for training in Economic and social historical Research.
The ESTER network also organizes Advanced Seminars, seminars intended for
advanced PhD students. These seminars focus upon a particular, rather restricted
domain of research.
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5. Registration and Admission of PhD students
PhD students interested in joining the N.W. Posthumus Institute can apply for
admission. They must fill out the online application form at the website of the N.W.
Posthumus Institute, taking into consideration the time limits for registration.
Requirements for admission are:
•
•
Candidates should have a relevant Master (or equivalent) degree. The
Examination Committee decides which preparatory training is necessary to
qualify for admission to the N.W. Posthumus Institute.
Candidates should be formally assigned to a PhD project. AIO’s or scholarship
PhD students (‘bursaal’) qualify as such. A candidate who did not go through
such a formal procedure of selection, can only be admitted if the supervisor
sends a written statement confirming that this PhD student has the expertise to
attend and complete the Posthumus training program with success.
The cohort of PhD students entering the curriculum will normally consist of between 15
and 25 students. If the number of applicants surpasses this number, the Examination
Committee can make a selection.
The annual contributions of the PhD students of the faculties that are a member of the
N.W. Posthumus Institute are listed in the financial appendix to the Common
Agreement. There are arrangements with each member-faculty how to finance the
Posthumus PhD training program.
PhD students from faculties not represented in the N.W. Posthumus Institute will be
charged a fee of € 750 per year.
PhD students of the N.W. Posthumus Institute have to follow the entire training
program. External candidates can compose their own program in consultation with the
Program Director.
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6. The PhD training program of the N.W. Posthumus Institute in detail
The Basic Training of the N.W. Posthumus Institute entitles the PhD student to the N.W.
Posthumus diploma if the PhD student has met the following requirements:
•
•
•
•
He/she submitted a study plan at the beginning and brought it up to date before
the individual assessment.
He/she participated actively in the three seminars of the Basic Training (see
below).
He/she has written and presented the required papers for these seminars.
He/she was present at the first year’s evaluation, the individual assessment, and
supplied the required information.
Moreover, every PhD student is expected to attend the annual Posthumus Conference.
6.1 Seminar 1: My project in a nutshell
The new cohort PhD students get to know each other and their projects during the first
seminar lasting one or two days. In addition to PhD students who recently embarked
upon their project, the seminar can also be attended by Research Master students who
are close to writing a PhD proposal or application of funds. The seminar provides a
forum to present initial ideas and get feedback from both other starting researchers and
two senior Posthumus fellows. Prior to the meeting every participant writes a short
research note about the historiographical background and the substance of his/her
project: My project in a nutshell. The aim is to position the project in the academic
debate. The research note should be written in English. Participants will read and
discuss each other’s notes.
When:
Deadline research note:
Preparation:
Attendance:
ECTS:
15/16 December 2014
13 November 2014
c. 1 week
2 days
2 (1 ECTS 28 hours)
6.2 Minor Paper & Seminar 2: Work in Progress
The minor paper provides a first substantial discussion of the PhD project. It positions
the research project in the relevant debates, formulates the research questions and
discusses the methodologies and techniques (10-15 pages A4). The minor paper should
be written in English and has to be presented during Seminar 2: Work in Progress.
Seminar 2 lasts two days. Each PhD student will present his/her minor paper. Every
participant will also be discussant of the minor paper of another PhD student. A senior
researcher, usually one of the fellows of the Posthumus Institute (but external experts
are an option too) will give a second comment on the minor paper.
Participants of Seminar 2 read the minor papers of all other participants and take part
in the general discussion. Everyone will referee one paper specifically. If they see fit,
experts can assign some reading material to the participants. The Program Director of
the N.W. Posthumus Institute or a substitute will be present during the seminar.
9
When:
Deadline research note:
Preparation:
Attendance:
ECTS:
t.b.a. (April/May 2014)
t.b.a. (March 2014)
c. 1 week
2 days
6 (4 for the paper, 2 for attendance)
6.3 Major Paper & Research Design Course
The major paper provides an advanced discussion of the PhD project. It evaluates the
major choices made structuring the research and the ultimate thesis. It also justifies
these choices in the light of good academic practice. The major paper thus gives a wellfounded formation of the research question and sub-questions, the expected answers,
the methods to be used, the steps to be taken doing research, the timing, the required
information, and the (provisional) structure (chapters) of the thesis. The Research
Design Course invites to reflect upon issues discussed in the theory of science literature:
the scientific ambitions, the perspectives adopted and rejected, problems combining
theory and empirical investigation, etc. It is expected that such issues, selected upon
relevance for the particular project, are included in the major paper after studying the
literature of the Research Design Course. The major paper will result in a draft version
of the first chapter of the dissertation. It includes a substantial introduction to the
project, and a dissertation plan. The paper, 20-25 pages, is written in English.
The Research Design Course is an international seminar lasting three to five days. The
Research Design Course is coordinated in the Netherlands by the Program Director. At
the Research Design Course the major papers are presented by their author and
discussed by participants and invited experts.
The Research Design Course gathers both the Dutch and Flemish PhD students of the
N.W. Posthumus Institute and PhD students from all over Europe. That is why this
course is organized by the ESTER network and its partners. They bring together an
international team of well qualified historians. During the seminar, PhD students will
present their major paper. Furthermore, each participant will referee the paper of
another participant. Usually, the Research Design Course works with parallel groups.
The participants have to read all the papers of their group and prepare the general
discussion of each paper.
The application process is competitive, and enrolment will be limited. Participants will
be selected on the basis of the progress of their research project and their proposal
should meet the minimum standards. Participation in the RDC may be substituted by
participation in another activity, such as a summer school. PhD students who prefer to
participate in another course, should contact the Program Director in advance.
When:
Deadline research note:
Preparation:
Attendance:
ECTS:
t.b.a. (Sept-Nov 2014)
t.b.a.
c. 1,5 week
3 or 4 days
8 (5 for paper, 3 for attendance)
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6.4 Individual Assessment
The Basic Training ends with an individual assessment. During this meeting of
approximately one hour, two fellows of the N.W. Posthumus Institute will assess,
together with the PhD student and his/her supervisor, the first year of the PhD project
and the expectations concerning the remainder of the project. The major aim is to
assess whether the PhD project is likely to be completed in time. Problems and possible
solutions can also be discussed. If the fellows conclude after the assessment that the
PhD student will in all likelihood finish the Posthumus training with a dissertation, then
the student will qualify for the Posthumus diploma, provided he/she has fulfilled all the
other requirements of the Basic Training. If the fellows conclude that the PhD student is
unlikely to complete his/her project, the PhD student can be asked to write an
additional paper in which remaining questions must be answered. A last option that can
be decided upon during the individual assessment, is the consultation of the
Examination Committee regarding ending the membership of the N.W. Posthumus
Institute and the advice to the supervisor that there are serious doubts about the
successful completion of the project.
The PhD students submit a report beforehand that must contain four sections:
- First, a brief section called “The RDC reconsidered”, in which they reflect upon
the Research Design Course, and not only summarize what was said, but
particularly outline what they intend to do with the comments, criticism, and
suggestions. This should be concluded with a brief updated (or revised)
description of the dissertation research project, summarizing aim, the research
question, the expected outcome, and the chapters. The maximum number of
pages of this first section is 5 A4.
- Secondly, the comments given by PhD’s and experts on your minor paper
presented during Seminar II (2 A4).
- Thirdly, the lay-out of the paper or article the PhD student is planning to write
after the Basic Training (1 A4).
- The fourth section consists of an updated study plan, detailing the activities
planned during the second year and a concise time plan for the later years (max.
2 A4).
When:
Preparation:
ECTS
t.b.a. (Jan.-Feb. 2015)
3 days
1
6.5 Advanced Training
The Basic Training is followed by an individual curriculum. This Advanced Training
aims at assisting the PhD student to position him/herself as an autonomous and known
colleague among the national and international community of researchers in Economic
and Social History and other relevant disciplines. The N.W. Posthumus Institute
assumes that the PhD students participate in the research school on an individual basis
and design their own portfolio. The portfolio must fulfil three criteria with its
subsequent training activities:
1. Internationalization-criterion: One paper in an international journal or a paper
at an international conference;
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2. Network engagement-criterion: Participation at the annual Posthumus
Conference, in the second year as a commentator and in the third year as a
speaker;
3. Exercise-criteron: presentation of a paper during two research training
activities, such as a masterclass, seminar, workshop or colloquium organized by
the N.W. Posthumus Institute or another academic institute other than the home
department.
The elements mentioned above constitute a minimum level of advanced learning. PhD
students can participate in Posthumus activities such as masterclasses or advanced
seminars as much as they want. They can also participate in workshops and other
activities organized by the research programs of the N.W. Posthumus Institute.
A PhD student qualifies for the Posthumus Research Certificate if he/she has fulfilled the
requirements specified above. PhD students are suggested to plan masterclasses and
write an article/paper during their second and third year, so that the certificate can be
granted well before the end of their project and they can concentrate upon finishing
their thesis. The PhD students are required to send articles, papers and additional
documentation to the office of the N.W. Posthumus Institute.
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7. Research Training Activities
PhD students participating in the PhD training program of the N.W. Posthumus Institute
can participate in as many research training activities as they want. Moreover, they are
actively encouraged to organize activities themselves. The N.W. Posthumus Institute’s
Bureau can help anyone who wants to organize an occasion with financial as well as
personal and practical aid. In order to give an idea about the practical forms that are
frequently used, several activities are listed below.
7.1 Masterclasses (ECTS 2)
A masterclass is staged around a well-known, usually foreign expert who visits Belgium
or the Netherlands. A small group, up to five or six PhD students and/or Research
Master students, will have the opportunity to interact intensively with the ‘master’. The
projects of the participants are the point of departure. Participants therefore have to
write a paper about their research and the problems they experience. The research of
the master can be raised during the class. Note that even though each masterclass can
be tailor-made, a lecture or a seminar where visitors only present their papers is not a
masterclass.
The expertise of the master defines the content of a masterclass. The PhD students must
assess themselves whether they can profit from a particular masterclass. The N.W.
Posthumus Institute welcomes initiatives of PhD students to organize masterclasses and
will offer financial support.
7.2 ESTER Advanced Seminars (ECTS 4)
ESTER, the European Graduate School for Training in Economic and social historical
Research, occasionally organizes Advanced Seminars around a particular domain of
research, intended for advanced PhD students.
PhD students reacting to an international call will be brought together with a number of
international experts. They will discuss exhaustively the papers and presentations of
the PhD students. The Advanced Seminars will be advertised on the website of the N.W.
Posthumus Institute.
7.3 Annual PhD conference (ECTS 2)
Together with the Program Director, the PhD representatives organize a PhD
conference as part of the annual N.W. Posthumus Conference, usually in spring time.
During this conference third year PhD students will present their project and in
particular the results of their research two years after the Research Design Course. The
PhD students are asked to submit a paper, which will be distributed to the participants.
Each paper will be refereed by both a second year PhD student and a senior fellow of
the N.W. Posthumus Institute or another expert. The second year PhD students act as
referees during this conference. The first year PhD students are expected to attend the
conference.
7.4 Research program activities
The research conducted by the senior fellows of the N.W. Posthumus Institute is
grouped in five programs (see Chapter 2). The PhD students are expected to join one of
13
the programs. Therefore, they are expected to contact the research director(s) of the
program they are interested in. The institute invites the PhD students to take part in the
conferences or other activities organized by their group. They also can and should
suggest group activities with value added to their projects.
7.5 External activities
Some departments of Economic and Social History organize postdoctoral workshops or
seminars, where papers are presented and debated or lectures given. The website of
the N.W. Posthumus Institute (www.hum.leiden.edu/posthumus) gives information on
seminars, meetings, courses and conferences. Information is also mailed electronically
to the members of the institute by means of the Posthumus Newsletter.
The N.W. Posthumus Institute cannot provide full coverage of all activities in the field.
PhD students are encouraged to look around and see which activities are interesting. It
pays to be attentive. Keep an eye, for example, on the summer schools organized by
GlobalEuroNet (www.esf.org/globaleuronet) or by the European Business History
association (www.ebha.org), or check FRESH-meetings that take place at different
locations. The number of temporary, international research groups is increasing rapidly,
such as G&WB-net (Gender and Well-Being; interactions between work, family and
public policies) (www.ub.es/tig/GWBNet ) or the Tensions of Europe group for those
interested in technology and its societal embeddedness (www.tensionsofeurope.eu).
See also www.histech.nl for the Foundation of the History of Technology.
The listserver organized by EH.NET (http://eh.net/) regularly provides information on
upcoming events and distributes calls for papers. The website of the International
Institute of Social History (IISH) in Amsterdam (www.iisg.nl) distributes information on
international activities. A valuable site, but in German and focused upon that country is
HSoz-u-Kult: http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de.
Other research schools may offer specialized courses which may be of interest for
individual PhD students of the N.W. Posthumus Institute, such as
• Huizinga Institute, Research School for Cultural History
(http://www.huizingainstituut.nl/)
• Research School of Medieval history (www.medievistiek.nl). See also the online
Initiative for medieval studies Reti Medievali (www.retimedievali.it)
• Network for General and Quantitative Economics (NAKE) (www.nake.nl)
• Tinbergen Institute (www.tinbergen.nl)
• Research school Science, Technology and Modern Culture (WTMC)
(http://www.wtmc.net/)
• Dutch Research School of Women Studies (NOV)
(http://www.genderstudies.nl/index.php?pageid=52)
Local Graduate Schools and faculties also organize useful courses. The N.W. Posthumus
Institute generally does not organize courses for improving general skills, like academic
writing in English or the use of ICT.
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Appendix: Planning Basic Training 2014-2015 (preliminary)
1 October 2014
13 November 2014
15/16 December 2014
March/April 2015
April/May 2015
Spring 2015
Summer 2015
Autumn 2015
Spring 2016
deadline registration
deadline research note
Seminar 1: My project in a nutshell
deadline Minor Paper
Seminar 2: Work in Progress
N.W. Posthumus Conference
deadline Major Paper
Research Design Course
Individual Assessment
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