Faculty of Science

Fundamentals of the PhD education at SCIENCE - module 4 - K2
Provider: Faculty of Science

Activity no.: 5046-26-00-02
	Enrollment deadline: 04/05/2026

Date and time

04.05.2026, at: 00:00 - 08.05.2026, at: 16:00

Regular seats

ECTS credits

2.50

Contact person

Fundamentals secretary group E-mail address: phdfundamentals@science.ku.dk

Enrolment Handling/Course Organiser

Fundamentals secretary group E-mail address: phdfundamentals@science.ku.dk

Written language

English

Teaching language

English

Block note

Registration
If you are enrolled between 1 January 2024 and February 2025 and need to sign up for one or more Fundamentals modules, please contact the PhD course adminstration - phdfundamentals@science.ku.dk
If you are enrolled after 1 March 2025 you will automatically be signed up for all 4 Fundamentals modules.

Exam form

Active participation during the campus course

Exam form

Written assignment

Course workload

Course workload category	Hours
Preparation	16.00
Class Instruction	31.00
Practical exercises	9.00
Theoretical exercises	11.00
E-learning	2.00

Sum	69.00

Aim and content

Responsible Conduct of Research 2
The overall aim of the RCR2 element in module 4 is to prepare PhD students for finishing their project, including submitting papers and their thesis. RCR2 covers the following topics:
• Necessary documentation when submitting papers, including ethical and copyright permissions, co-authorship statements, and statements on conflicts of interests and availability of materials, data, and code.
• The process of thesis submission, plagiarism checks, potential text improvements, and thesis assessment works.
• Preparation and documentation of data and materials according to the highest reproducibility standards.

The scientific communication
The scientific communication element will provide basic theory on communication styles and models, scientific storytelling and rhetorics. PhD students will work towards becoming self-reflective communicators attuned to the various forms of communication work they already do or may be doing in the future. During the course, they will work with written and/or oral dissemination forms in hands-on workshops where they may choose to focus on either communicating their own research to a scientific audience or to the general public.
The dissemination element covers the following topics:
• Why and when is it important to disseminate your research to a wider public?
• How to choose the most appropriate form of communication for a given communication task?
• Communicating in an ethically sound and self-reflective way with different stakeholders and audiences, including awareness of different rhetorical techniques and communication models (their strengths, weaknesses and potential pitfalls).
• In-depth workshops focussed either on how to catch the attention of other scientists or the general public and sharing the results and learnings across the two groups.

IUP
IUP Follow-up covers the following topics:
• Challenges encountered in university teaching situations.
• The advanced use of theoretical constructs in the teaching of SCIENCE disciplines including course development.
• Forming and using teaching networks.
• Using teaching reflections to improve teaching.

Career management
The overall aim of module 4 of the career management element of the course is that PhD students have the job searching skills required to transition smoothly into a job that matches their aspirations. The career management element will cover the following topics:
• The Danish labour market
• Job search
• CV and cover letter writing
• The recruitment process

Special rules apply for this course
1: The module is mandatory for all PhD students at the Faculty of SCIENCE enrolled after 1 January 2024.

2: PhD students enrolled before 1 January 2024 and External PhD students do not participate in Fundamentals.

3: Fundamentals modules 1, 2 and 3 must be passed before you can take module 4. Module 4 lies 9-12 months before handing in the PhD thesis.

Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes for the four elements are given below. Each outcome is marked K for Knowledge, S for Skills, or C for Competences.

The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR2) element:
• To make the student understand how best to store, share and preserve research data (K).
• To obtain knowledge about risks and benefits of active public science communication and provide students with dos and don’ts (K).
• Ability to execute all necessary preparatory steps for successful submission of papers and thesis in accordance with current standards of RCR (S).
• Know how to store, share and preserve research data (S).
• The ability to engage with different stakeholders using ethically sound communication skills, styles, and tools (S).
• Ability to prepare, submit papers and Ph.D.-thesis in accordance with current RCR standards (C).
• Ability to store, share and preserve research data according to current standards of research integrity (C).
• To effectively communicate research findings to a wider public in accordance with current RCR standards (C).

The Scientific dissemination element:
• Overview of communication models and rhetorical techniques (K).
• Hands-on storytelling workshop on their own thesis (S).
• Experience with communicating the PhD students’ own research either to a scientific audience or the wider public (C).

The IUP follow-up element:
• Identify appropriate educational research pertaining to disciplinary teaching (K).
• Effectively use educational research to address teaching challenges and improve instruction (S).
• Effectively use self-reflection and peer-networks to assess and improve instruction (S).
• Plan instruction ranging from an individual lesson to a complete course using research-based methodologies (C).
• Develop a peer network to support the development of effective teaching skills (C).

The career management element:
• Identify important aspects of the Danish labour market.
• Describe a typical recruitment process in industry (K)
• Translate the skills they have developed during their academic training to other relevant contexts (S).
• Articulate career goals and make career plans (C).
• Plan the transition from PhD student to their next job (C).
• Identify and use relevant tools in the job search, including activating professional networks (C).
• Market themselves effectively to prospective employers (C).

Teaching and Learning Methods
The RCR2 element consists of independent work in preparation for the in-class modules consisting of a mix of lectures and discussion exercises, as well as some practical exercises. After the in-class module the participants work independently in their written assignments.

The IUP follow-up element consists of independent work in preparation for the in-class module consisting of a mix of instruction and active learning exercises.

The Scientific dissemination element consists of independent reading in preparation for the in-class module, lectures, group discussion, hands-on writing workshops, and communication training.

The career management element is flipped classroom, blended learning. It includes individual study of eLearning materials, reflective and practical assignments and an on-campus workshop with plenary and groups.

Type of assessment
The learning outcome of the RCR2 element will be assessed based on a written assignment prepared after the teaching.

The learning outcome of the IUP follow-up element will be assessed based on work done by the students during the in-class meeting.

The Scientific dissemination element of module 4 is passed based on active participation in class.

The career management element of the module is passed based on
• active participation throughout the module
• submission of a written assignment
• giving peer-feedback on other participants assignments

Course days
The module takes place on campus during one week.

Four weeks before the on-campus course week, participants will receive a link to a career management eLearning module. Participants must complete the eLearning and assignments before the on-campus course week.

5 days on campus.

Remarks
The PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE is committed to building a learning environment that welcomes, includes, and empowers all its PhD students. By building a Faculty-wide peer community of PhD-students with the Fundamentals course, we secure that all PhD candidates are given adequate instruction in a range of essential competences that lie outside the core scientific research skills offered through supervision, tool-box and specialized PhD courses. Moreover, we build bridges between different research programmes at the Faculty of SCIENCE and offer diverse, multidisciplinary fora of exchange strengthening the PhD candidates’ scientific and social networks and laying the foundation for a strong alumni culture.

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