Objectives and target audience

In a world with an increasing number of PhD holders, it is important to provide young researchers with the keys and tools they need to carry out their research successfully, but also to prepare them to enter a new professional environment after completing their doctorate. Indeed, most PhD graduates will leave the academic world for careers in other sectors.

The courses offered in the ‘Catalogue of transferable skills training courses for researchers’ therefore aim to raise awareness and introduce researchers to skills that are ‘transferable’ from their current workplace (research) to any other workplace (academic or other). Transferable skills encompass both “hard skills” (technical skills) and “soft skills” (interpersonal skills).

Regardless of your current or future professional position – in the academic or non-academic sector – these skills are increasingly sought after and valued by employers.

Link to an overview of all training sessions offered in 2025-2026 : catalogue of the transferable skills training courses for researchers in 2025-2026

In concrete terms

• Free training courses are open to all UMONS researchers, regardless of their career stage (R1->R4).

PLEASE NOTE: These courses represent a human and financial investment on the part of the university. Please make sure you honour your commitment, otherwise you may face penalties.

• Training courses offered by UMONS and in cooperation with other Belgian universities.
• The training programme includes six subject areas covering all the skills that researchers are required to master (ResearchComp) : Communication, Research, Tools and Data Management, Resilience and Well-Being, Teaching Practices, Entrepreneurship, Career Management.
• Tailor-made options: The courses can be taken independently of one another, regardless of subject area.
• Subject to the agreement of your thesis supervisor and/or your supervisory committee, any training courses you attend can be credited towards your doctoral programme. For this purpose, a certificate of attendance will be issued for each course you will have taken.

Émerance et Stéphanie alumni.emploi@umons.ac.be