Covid-19

Corona Virus – Stay after your studies

In April, a group of international graduates started a petition to extend the search year to accommodate the decline in vacancies and networking opportunities. In a written response to questions from the Dutch Parliament, Minister Koolmees for Social Affairs and Employment explains that it is not possible to extend the search year as the conditions for this residence permit are entrenched in law, and changing them is an uncertain and lengthy process. However, because the government values the contribution of international students and highly skilled migrants greatly, they decided to extend the period for which graduates are eligible for a highly skilled migrant residence permit with a lower salary criterium.

In the attached flyer Infosheet – NUFFIC you can find more information about the search year and other residence permit that can facilitate your stay in the Netherlands after graduation.

Finally, we would like to remind you that wherever your road will take you, The Netherlands wants to keep in touch with you. Don’t forget to register on the Holland Alumni network and let us know about your interests and expertise, so that we can keep talking.

Pressing letter young scientists: Don’t let us down

Knowledge is lost, potential innovations stagnate and careers become frustrated. In short, these are the consequences of the corona crisis for young scientists if nothing happens. That is why on Monday 13 July the PhD candidates Network Netherlands, PostdocNL and The Young Academy will send a pressing letter fire to the government on behalf of all Dutch Young Academies, requesting a continuity package of € 350 million. Continue reading…

Guide for dealing with delays as a result of Covid-19

PNN, together with parties such as VSNU, PostdocNL, De Jonge Akademie and trade unions, co-authored a guide for dealing with delays as a result of COVID-19 in the research of PhD candidates, postdocs and tenure trackers. this guideline provides an overview of possible causes of delay, both related to the research and to the personal circumstances, and provides possible solutions to deal with this delay. It also provides various example scenarios, but also indications of the expected delay.

This guide is spread across the universities, which can use it to shape their tailor-made compensation measures for these groups. PhD candidates, postdocs and tenure trackers can also use this document as a preparation for when they enter the discussions about compensation with their employer. The questionnaire at the end of this guide has been drawn up specifically for this purpose.

We hope that this document can help PhD candidates to regain some grip on their PhD trajectory. Unfortunately, however, there are still legal and financial restrictions that can stand in the way of proper compensation. Together with the other parties involved, PNN will continue its efforts to remove these limitations as far as possible.

NB: This document is a guide, but not a hard guideline for universities. The arrangements made by individual universities may deviate from the recommendations in this guide. If your university or institution seriously deviates from the recommendations in this guide, for example by not considering personal circumstances as a reason for delay, please contact your local PhD representatives or PNN.

Protocol restart universities

• • • Employees work from home if their work permits;
    • The current RIVM guidelines remain in force for research activities. This means, among other things, that it is possible for institutions to allow employees to carry out research activities at the physical location(s) of higher education institutions, in the event that this research work cannot be carried out remotely and provided it can be organised within the general instructions of RIVM and the Municipal Health Service (GGD);
    • In view of their own responsibility, continuity and organisation, there is scope for institutions to make their own considerations in the application of this protocol in consultation with employee participation;
    • The aim is to ensure equal rights and obligations for (foreign) students and employees when starting up education and research;
    • There is room for customisation in the protective measures to be taken, including for employees and students from at-risk groups. A good balance must be found here with the need to use these resources for care processes.

• • • For the time being, research activities that can take place at a distance will also take place at a distance;
    • Priority is given to the completion of PhD and postdoctoral research projects within university buildings. The importance of research for health care and the contribution to improving the corona situation are also important.