PhD Council

Welcome to UHasselt PhD Council, an organization dedicated to representing the interests of PhD students and fostering a thriving community. Our mission is three-fold, focusing on advocacy, engagement, and creating a sense of belonging among PhD students at UHasselt.

Advocacy
We appoint passionate PhD student representatives who actively advocate for the interests of PhD students in various decision-making forums, including meetings conducted by UHasselt's board of directors, faculty and department councils, and management teams. Additionally, we appoint representatives for essential committees such as the Doctoral School Council, VLIR Workgroup Doctoral Schools, Food Commission, Library Commission, and Council for Student Facilities. 

Engagement
To encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we organize informal bi-monthly meetings that are open to all PhD students who become members of our council. These meetings serve as a platform for updates from our representatives and provide an opportunity for members to raise relevant topics and concerns related to their work, life and challenges as PhD students at UHasselt. Our community events are also a key engagement platform: each event is organized around a specific theme, during which recommendations and suggestions from PhD students are actively discussed and collected to inform our advocacy work.

Creating a Community
We believe in the power of community and strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all PhD students. In addition to our advocacy and engagement efforts, we organize community-building activities such as monthly after-work drinks. Our aim is to foster a safe space where you can relax, connect with fellow researchers and build lasting relationships.

At UHasselt, we believe that the voices and contributions of our PhD students are vital in shaping the policies that govern our institution. The PhD Council, proudly endorsed by UHasselt's board of directors, exists to support strong and inclusive engagement of all PhD students in university policymaking.

Our mission is to create a dynamic platform that brings together representatives from every PhD program. Through this unified entity, we strive to achieve the following objectives:

• Stimulating Exchange: We foster an environment that encourages the exchange of policy-related information among PhD students. By creating a consultative body, we provide a space for constructive discussions and valuable insights.
• Unifying Representation: We unite the voices of PhD representatives under a common strategy. By streamlining our communication channels, we ensure effective collaboration with the management of UHasselt and its doctoral schools.
• Appointing Representatives: We appoint dedicated representatives for superordinate mandates that transcend specific doctoral schools or university substructures. This ensures all areas of our institution are adequately represented in the decision-making process.

In the PhD Council, every member can contribute to everything — we do not assign specific roles or titles. All members work together as equals to serve the PhD community.

UHasselt PhD Council is guided by the Constitution of the PhD Council. The executive committee leadership of the PhD Council consists of:

• Dante Pinto Araya
• Giulia Lumia
• Haroon Tharwat
• Juan Guerrero Paez
• Vipul Chalotra
• William Houghton
• Yunyun Wang

Talk with Us

If you are experiencing any form of harassment or bullying in your workplace, we want to assure you that the PhD Council is here to support you. We encourage you to reach out to us so that we can assist you in addressing your concerns appropriately. Please feel free to contact any of our executive committee members and share your situation with them. They will provide guidance and support to help you navigate through this challenging time.

Afterwork Drinks

You can find certain resources for PhD students in the following links.

• Mental well-being: who to turn to for support
• Contact point for transgressive behavior
• Information regarding contract extension

Are you passionate about contributing to a vibrant PhD community at Hasselt University? We invite you to join the PhD Council and become an active member of our community!

As a member of the PhD Council, you will have the opportunity to:

• Share Your Ideas: Your voice matters! Actively contribute your insights and perspectives to discussions and decision-making that affect PhD students at Hasselt University.

• Connect with Like-minded Peers: Build meaningful connections, exchange knowledge, and support one another throughout your doctoral journey.

• Stay Informed: Gain access to the PhD Council's mailing list. Stay updated with the latest news, events, and initiatives relevant to PhD students.

To become a member, simply reach out to one of the existing members.

In addition, all PhD researchers are warmly invited to join the UHasselt PhD Community WhatsApp Group. This informal and friendly channel brings together PhD researchers across all faculties to share opportunities and useful information, stay up to date with PhD Council initiatives and events, and connect beyond their own department or research group. It also offers a space to organise informal social gatherings and strengthen connections within the wider PhD community.

We value your questions, remarks and suggestions. Please feel free to reach out to us and our dedicated team will promptly respond to your inquiry. You can also scan the QR codes below to connect with us directly.

EMAIL
phdcouncil@uhasselt.be

WHATSAPP
UHasselt PhD Council

LINKEDIN
UHasselt PhD Council

INSTAGRAM
@phdcouncil_uhasselt

You can also get in touch with one of our members directly — they are knowledgeable and passionate individuals who can provide you with the information and support you need.