The tutoring program will start again in spring 2024 (for 1st year of PhD only). The informations below are not up to date but will be refreshed soon.
In early 2014, a tutoring system was established in the laboratory. The aim of this system is that every PhD student has an advisor for any situation but especially in case of difficult issues. The tutor can help the student to reflect on and get an overview of his current situation. Also, the tutor can point out the right person to address to in case of administrative issues and advise the student in case of difficulties with the supervisor. The tutor can for example take on the role of a mediator between PhD supervisor and student if he/she considers it convenient. Finally, by forging a relationship with the student, the tutors provide a support for a deeper understanding of the research world to students. An informal meeting takes place at least once per semester. Any permanent staff can be a tutor but the latter cannot be the student’s supervisor nor belong to his research team. You will find the tutoring charter below.
Why?
A PhD is both, scientific education and a human adventure.Good supervision can make a big difference and lead to better research outcomes of the PhD.
For whom?
In the long run, every PhD student at Néel Institute will have a tutor, but for this first year, only the first year students are concerned.Students who do not spend time at the institute will not necessary have a tutor, however, they can ask for one if they wish. Anyone having a permanent position at the institute can be a tutor.The tutor must not be the stundent’s supervisor nor belong to his research team. Very importantly, the tutor is a volunteer.The laboratory director requests that a tutor initially attributed to a student has done a PhD himself and belongs to another department. However, if the student wants to change his/her tutor, and vice versa, the previous restrictions do not apply. In that case, the coordinator and student will jointly decide on a new attribution.
Purpose of the coordinator?
There is one coordinator for the whole laboratory. He/She is chosen by the laboratory director.Periodically, he/she allocates tutors to new students, helped by representatives of non-permanent staff from each department. If an issue comes up between the tutor and the student, the coordinator can take the decision to change the tutor-student attribution. If a student or tutor wishes to change the attribution, thay can address themselves to the coordinator. At the origin of this request does not neccessarily need to be a problem between the supervisor and student. A higher affinity to another member of permanent staff or low availability of the tutor for example are sufficient reasons to modify assignment. In this case, a suggestion for a new tutor will be appreciated. In order to focus on the relationship between the student and the tutor, the new tutor does not need to have done a PhD nor belong to another department.
What is expected from the tutors?
Results of a survey among PhD students:The tutor is an advisor for any situation but especially in case of difficult issues. He/She helps the student to reflect on and to get an overview of his/her current situation. The tutor is a confidant. He/She can lead the student to the right person in case of administrative difficulties. Of course, he/she does not need to know everything, but can help to find someone who knows a solution.He/She advises the student in case of issues with the supervisor. However, he/she does not need to solve a problem that should rather be addressed by thestudent himself or the director of the laboratory. He/She can encourage the student to talk to the director or the doctoral school if needed. If this is not sufficient, he/she can directly alert the director. The tutor can take on the role of a mediator between tutor and student if the he/she thinks it is wise. The tutor is a support for a deeper understanding of the research world. The student can talk to the tutor about his/her professional project. But most importantly, the tutor is a mentor. It is not his task to replace the supervisor nor is he supposed to answer scientific questions. He/She rather forges a relationship with the student in order to support him when needed and to share his/her experience. The tutor/student pair must meet at least once per semester. The meeting is informal, e.g. around a cup of coffee. A maximum two students can be attributed to the same tutor.
