In addition to PhD programs at universities, many PhD programs take place at university medical centers (UMCs) and peripheral hospitals. These PhD candidates fall under different regulations than their colleagues at universities. As a result, there are partly different issues at play for these PhD candidates, to which the PNN is also committed.
PNN-LOUP
PNN has set up a separate working group for the specific topics from these groups; the National Consultation of UMC PhD candidates (LOUP). This working group consists of PhD representatives from the eight UMCs and a number of peripheral hospitals who meet once every six to eight weeks. At these meetings both local and national themes are discussed, and together we arrive at a plan of approach.
Labour conditions
PhD candidates at UMCs are covered by the cao-UMC's . Here it is important to note that different conditions apply to doctors who do a PhD (physician-researchers) than to PhD candidates with other academic backgrounds (trainee researchers (OIOs)). For physician-researchers, the minimum salary scale is 10.2, while OIOs start in a separate salary scale. In addition, peripheral hospitals also have their own collective labor agreement, the CAO Hospitals. PNN is committed to improving working conditions and awareness of rights and obligations among PhD candidates.
Quality of education and supervision
As a PhD candidate, you are a beginning researcher, and good supervision and quality courses are indispensable in this regard. In contrast to the CAO for universities (CAO-NU), the CAO-UMC does not provide protection regarding the quality of the PhD trajectory. As a result, the initiative for making agreements with the supervisor and any daily supervisor lies with the PhD candidate. A good format for establishing agreements regarding the pathway is to draw up a training and supervision plan (TSP) . In addition to daily supervision, courses are needed to acquire the necessary skills. Currently, there are large differences between UMCs and peripheral hospitals in the number of required credits (ECTS) that must be obtained during the doctoral program. The PNN is committed to ensuring high-quality PhD tracks for all PhD candidates. Specifically for the UMCs, some LOUP members participate in national committees such as the NFU Graduate school consultation and the BROK committee.
