Onboarding for International Doctoral Candidates

The first day of the TUM-GS Onboarding Program (“Orientation Day”) provides essential information to help international doctoral candidates get acquainted with Germany, Munich, and the Technical University of Munich. Participants will familiarize themselves with the TUM Doctoral Model and better understand their role as doctoral candidates in the TUM research environment. Through a mixture of information sessions, talks, and panel discussions, participants will understand what is expected of them regarding the supervisor-doctoral candidate relationship. Participants will also learn about their involvement in research, teaching, and administrative work at their research groups and mandatory coursework and requirements for a successful doctorate at TUM. The Orientation Day will also provide an overview of TUM’s/TUM-GS’s academic support services, transferable skills training offers, and services available for personal development and well-being on and off campus. 

Sample program: 

1. 10:00-12:00: Welcome to Germany
2. 12:30-14:00: Lunch Talk: “How to be successful as an international doctoral candidate at TUM – perspectives from TUM supervisors"
3. 14:00-14:30: Introduction to the German research system
4. 14:30-15:30: Essentials for your doctorate at TUM
5. Optional networking activity  

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the day, participants will have gained  

• Insights into German values, customs, traditions, and peculiarities;
• Knowledge of basic business etiquette in Germany and German academia;
• Helpful information about settling in and living in Germany;
• A brief overview of the German higher education system and key players in the German research landscape;
• An introduction to TUM’s history, recent developments, and understanding of TUM as a state-funded corporation under public law;
• Understanding of the requirements of the TUM Doctoral Model, what they can expect from their doctorate, and what is expected from them as doctoral candidates;
• Overview of TUM’s and TUM-GS’s support infrastructure and services offers;
• Introduction to who is who in the TUM-GS and how to navigate through TUM’s multi-level administration;
• Opportunities to network with their peers and meet TUM doctoral candidates, researchers, and staff. 

Time and date:

Monday, 04 November 2024, 10:00-16:30

Location: 

TUM Graduate School, Boltzmannstr. 17, 85748 Garching (TUM Campus Garching-Forschungszentrum) 

The intercultural training spans six weeks and consists of one kick-off day, a facilitated self-learning phase of six weeks with two “pit-stops” for group work and feedback, and a half-day conclusion workshop. 

The workshop prepares international doctoral candidates to successfully acknowledge, understand, and navigate through challenging situations in their everyday research at a German university. By addressing the cultural dimensions in the German university context, the workshop supports participants in understanding the cultural differences, e.g., communication style, feedback culture, perception of hierarchy, etc. It provides strategies to communicate effectively and enhance their relationship with their supervisors and colleagues. Through the training, participants will acquire relevant competencies for their intercultural and diverse doctoral context and everyday working & research life and gain support to understand how they can adopt these competencies to enhance their doctoral journey at TUM and their personal satisfaction and well-being. 

Learning outcomes: 
By participating in the intercultural training, participants will 

• Acquire awareness about how culture influences their behavior and the perception of their behavior by others in everyday research situations; 
• Better categorize possible uncertainty factors and feel strengthened in dealing with uncertainties; 
• Learn how to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries;
• Reflect on their expectations regarding their doctorate and the collaboration with their supervisors and colleagues; 
• Learn how to deal with “culture shock” and develop helpful adaptation strategies;
• Exchange their experience, views, and solutions for dealing with intercultural challenging situations.  

Upon request, participants may benefit from individual one-on-one intercultural coaching sessions during the self-learning phase and in the subsequent months after the course.   

Time and date: 

Kick-off day: Tuesday, 05 November 2024, 09:30 – 16:30 

Pit-Stops during the self-learning phase:

• 1^st Pit-Stop: Thursday, 21 November 2024, 09:00-10:30 
• 2^nd Pit-Stop: Tuesday, 03 December 2024, 09:00-10:30 

Conclusion day: Thursday, 19 December 2024, 10:00 – 14:00 

Location: 

Kick-off and conclusion: TUM Graduate School, Boltzmannstr. 17, 85748 Garching (TUM Campus Garching-Forschungszentrum) 

Pit-Stops: remotely via Zoom 

The workshop is designed to facilitate the start of the doctoral journey by introducing new international doctoral candidates to essential skills in self-organization, methodology, and tools in the context of the German academic system. By participating in the training, new doctoral candidates will understand the criteria for a project/research plan and familiarize themselves with techniques and strategies for managing scientific projects in German academia. The training will help participants to structure their research work, set developmental goals, and manage their time efficiently.   

Learning outcomes: 

By participating in the course, participants will 

• Learn essential tools and methods to improve their self- & time management skills; 
• Familiarize themselves with project and time management fundamentals in German academia; 
• Develop constructive communication strategies with supervisors and within project teams; 
• Understand common challenges and pitfalls during a doctorate in Germany and how to address them. 

Time and date:  

The course comprises two parts, taking place remotely via Zoom on two subsequent Mondays: 

1. Part I: Monday, 09 December 2024, 09:00-13:00, and 
2. Part II: Monday, 16 December 2024, 09:00-13:00.  

Location: 

The two-part course will take place remotely via Zoom.