Soft skills for PhD students
Scientific research and today's highly specialised job market require not only the subject-specific skills typically taught during a three-year doctoral programme, but also technical and interpersonal skills.
The University of Milan offers a wide range of soft-skills courses, from stand-alone modules to cycles of lectures. These courses are designed to enhance understanding of research results exploitation mechanisms, intellectual property protection, and the ethical implications of research. Additionally, they aim to facilitate participation in European funding programmes. Soft-skills courses are common to all doctoral programmes and offer a valuable chance to develop versatile skills applicable to diverse professional settings, ranging from research and teaching to the third sector.
Doctoral students are required to complete 72 hours of soft skills courses within three years. Soft skills courses are open to doctoral students from all disciplines. The course catalogue includes courses offered by the 4EU+ Alliance.
Starting in 2024, a Skills Week has been implemented, allowing participants to complete the recommended number of hours per year (approximately 24 hours) in just one week. Every year, the University organises three Skills Weeks, in February, June/July, and September. Students are required to attend only one Skills Week per year.
The June/July issue is in English.
How to register and participate
PhD students can register for the Skills Week via their Unimia account.
Registration deadline: 31 January 2024.
Each student can only enrol in one of the Skills Weeks dedicated to their doctoral cycle.
|
February |
June/July |
September |
|
|
37th cycle |
19/02 – 23/02 |
24/06 – 28/06 |
02/09 – 06/09 |
|
38th cycle |
19/02 – 23/02 |
24/06 – 28/06 |
02/09 – 06/09 |
|
39th cycle |
26/02 – 01/03 |
01/07 – 05/07 |
23/09 – 27/09 |
Once you've selected your Skills Week, you won't have the flexibility to attend courses of different cycles or weeks. Courses can be in person or online (synchronous or on-demand).
Each Skills Week can have a maximum of 150/180 participants, depending on the number of PhD students enrolled in each doctoral cycle. Students can choose their preferred courses from a specific catalogue.
At the end of each Skills Week, there is a compulsory half-day in-person session dedicated to practicing soft skills through group activities. In the third year, the final in-person day is specifically allocated to skills assessment.
Referente: Comitato Etico prof.ssa Edefonti, Prof.ssa Ragni, Prof. Sironi, Prof. Perri - Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: inglese
Durata e modalità: 3 ore, online on-demand
The course aims at raising awareness on how the open science is becoming the new normal, also through examples taken from its research methods.
Topics:
Open science: a definition
- Principles
- Tools
- Rights management
- Open access and different opportunities (green, gold, diamond and hybrid, and transformative agreements)
Instructor: Paola Galimberti, Performance, Quality Assurance, Assessment, and Open Science Policy Division of the University of Milan and Head of the Institutional Research Repository (Air)
Languages: Italian / English
Course editions in Italian
Medical area
Part I: 27 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 28 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Scientific area
Part I: 7 March 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 8 March 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Humanistic, socio-political, economic and legal area
Part I: 9 March 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 10 March 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Course editions in English
All areas
Part I: 20 March 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 21 March 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
The course aims at raising awareness on how the open science is becoming the new normal, also through examples taken from its research methods.
Topics:
Open science: a definition
- policies (at European, national and institutional level)
- predatory publishers (why they exist, how to recognise them and how to protect from them)
- pre-print server and open peer review platforms
Instructor: Paola Galimberti, Performance, Quality Assurance, Assessment, and Open Science Policy Division of the University of Milan and Head of the Institutional Research Repository (Air)
Languages: Italian / English
Course editions in Italian
Scientific area
Part I: 3 April 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 4 April 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Medical area
Part I: 5 April 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 14 April 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Humanistic, socio-political, economic and legal area
Part I: 17 April 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 18 April 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Course editions in English
All areas
Part I: 20 April 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 26 April 2023, 10:00 am - 12:00 am
The Internet has brought a sea change in research production, validation, assessment and dissemination. During the meeting we will address the issue of open science as a response and potential solution to the crisis of scientific communication. We will explore open science approaches, common prejudices and actual benefits. We will cover topics such as rights management, reproducibility of research, predatory journals and preprints. A part of the seminar will focus on policies and tools available at our University.
Instructor: Paola Galimberti, Performance, Quality Assurance, Assessment, and Open Science Policy Division of the University of Milan and Head of the Institutional Research Repository (Air)
Languages: Italian/English
Course editions in Italian
Scientific area
Part I: 2 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 3 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Medical area
Part I: 8 May 2023, 9:30 am -11:30 am
Part II: 9 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Humanistic, socio-political, economic and legal area
Part I: 15 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 16 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Course editions in English
All areas
Part I: 17 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 18 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
The objective of the course is to provide the necessary basic tools and strategies for written production in Academic English, in order to organise and structure a text efficiently and use grammar and syntactic structure, as well as punctuation, in the correct way.
Instructor: SLAM Language trainer - Lesley Gowland
Language: English
Editions: online
GROUP 1
Part I: 5 July 2023, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Part II: 6 July 2023, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
GROUP 2
Part I: 4 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Part II: 6 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
GROUP 3
Part I: 10 July 2023 – 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Part II: 11 July 2023 – 8:30 am - 10:30 am
GROUP 4
Part I: 10 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Part II: 11 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
GROUP 5
Part I: 17 July 2023, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Part II: 18 July 2023, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
GROUP 6
Part I: 17 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Part II: 18 July 2023, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Registration for the course is mandatory. It is possible to register through Unimia students portal.
There are 80 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 6 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date.
A lecture and an exercise session on how to prepare a dissemination plan and how to manage an epic fail.
Instructor: Professor Ivano Eberini – University of Milan
Languages: Italian/English
Course editions in Italian
GROUP 1
Part I: 6 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (lecture on communication and new media), via Festa del Perdono 3, Room 201
Part II: 6 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (communication analysis laboratory on new media), LINK TEAMS
GROUP 2
Part I: 13 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (lecture on communication and new media), via Celoria 20, Room 200
Part II: 13 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (communication analysis laboratory on new media), LINK TEAMS
Course editions in English
GROUP 3
Part I: 20 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm (lecture on communication and new media), via Celoria 20, Room 208
Part II: 19 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm (communication analysis laboratory on new media), LINK TEAMS
Referente: Prof. Ivano Eberini – Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 3 ore, online in diretta
In the current work environment it is important to transmit knowledge through presentations and public speaking sessions that combine efficacy and fluency. This course on linguistic coaching aims to examine how to present contents in a clear and effective way, and appear authentic.
Instructor: SLAM Language trainer - Monika Solberg
Language: English
Course editions: online
GROUP 1
Part I: 11 September 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 12 September 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
GROUP 2
Part I: 11 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 12 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
GROUP 3
Part I: 18 September 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Part II: 19 September 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
GROUP 4
Part I: 18 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 19 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
GROUP 5
Part I: 20 September 2023, 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Part II: 21 September 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
GROUP 6
Part I: 20 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Part II: 21 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Registration for the course is mandatory. It is possible to register through Unimia students portal.
There are 80 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 6 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date.
The course aims to make young researchers aware of what intellectual property is, how it is generated and how to protect it. Particular attention will be given to characteristics of inventions and patents, as well as rules governing the ownership of research findings, the University regulations on industrial property and the services offered to researchers for the protection and enhancement of innovative findings.
Instructor: Federica Marinoni - Intellectual Property Office, Deployment of Intellectual Property and Innovation Division, University of Milan.
Languages: Italian/English
Course edition in Italian
28 June 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Course edition in English
7 September 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm LINK ZOOM
Referente: Direzione Performance, Assicurazione Qualita, Valutazione e Politiche di Open Science - Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 4 ore, online on-demand
The objective of the course is to provide the necessary basic tools and strategies for written production in Academic English, in order to organise and structure a text efficiently and use grammar and syntactic structure, as well as punctuation, in the correct way.
Instructor: SLAM Language trainer - Fabio Stesio
Language: English
GROUP 1
Part I: 10 March 2023, 09:00 am - 11:00 am online
Part II: 14 March 2023, 09:00 am - 11:00 am online
GROUP 2
Part I: 10 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
Part II: 14 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
GROUP 3
Part I: 16 March 2023, 9:00 am - 11:00 am online
Part II: 17 March 2023, 9:00 am - 11:00 am online
GROUP 4
Part I: 16 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
Part II: 17 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
GROUP 5
Part I: 23 March 2023, 9:00 am - 11:00 am online
Part II: 24 March 2023, 9:00 am - 11:00 am online
GROUP 6
Part I: 23 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
Part II: 24 March 2023, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm online
Registration for the course is mandatory.
There are 80 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 6 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date.
The course will provide insights into the opportunities available for doctoral students in the field of research. It will also explain how research grants work, providing an overview of national and international grants. Finally, it will examine the Charter for Researchers.
Instructor: Research Services Division
Languages: Italian/English
Course edition in Italian
13 June 2023, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Course edition in English
15 June 2023, ore 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The laboratory is optional; it aims to teach how to produce scientific contents for new media, with an overview of good practices and the most common errors. Registration is required through the link that will be posted on this page.
Instructor: Professor Ivano Eberini - University of Milan
Course edition in Italian
GROUP 1
5 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LINK TEAMS
Course edition in English
GROUP 2
12 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LINK TEAMS
The course outlines the researchers’ principles and responsibilities necessary to the research process, from its planning to its publication. It also gives practical tips on how to deal with complex situations. The course will explore the standards every researcher should reach, in an efficient and engaging way.
Instructor: Oxford University - Epigeum
Language: English
Delivery month: Delivery month: January 2023 online
The course introduces the concept of integrity in research, that is the ethical values, deontological duties and professional standards inspiring a responsible conduct in research activities, funding and assessment. The application of principles and values and respect for deontological ethics and professional standards is a guarantee of research quality and improves the reputation and public image of science, with important reverberations throughout the scientific community and society.
Instructors: Professors Valeria Edefonti, Chiara Ragni, Luigi Sironi, members of the Ethics Committee of the University, and Pierluigi Perri, Data Protection Officer (DPO) - University of Milan
Language: English
Medical/scientific area:
21 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Humanistic Area
2 March 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
It is no surprise that our “inner critic” comes to light, after the joy we initially felt for having been invited for a job interview. This course will prepare and empower candidates to deal with different types of job interviews, and manage their linguistic and non-verbal skills, in order to obtain the best result.
Instructor: SLAM Language trainer - Monika Solberg
Language: English
GROUP 1
Part I: 22 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
Part II: 23 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
GROUP 2
Part I: 22 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Part II: 23 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
GROUP 3
Part I: 24 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
Part II: 25 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
GROUP 4
Part I: 24 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Part II: 25 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
GROUP 5
Part I: 30 May 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
Part II: 1 June 2023, 9:30 am - 11:30 am online
GROUP 6
Part I: 30 May 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Part II: 1 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Registration for the course is mandatory. It is possible to register through Unimia students portal.
There are 80 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 6 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date.
A reflection on the skills that can be transferred beyond the academic environment.
Instructor: FIND your DOC
Languages: Italian/English
Course editions in Italian
GROUP 1: 28 June 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm online
GROUP 2: 29 June 2023, 09:30 am - 12:30 pm online
GROUP 3: 30 June 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm online
GROUP 4: 3 July 2023, 09:30 am - 12:30 pm online
Course edition in English
GROUP 5: 10 July 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm online
Registration for the course is mandatory.
There are 100 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 5 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date.
In cooperation with the Post-Graduate Guidance and Placement Services of COSP - University Study and Career Guidance Services
Referente: SLAM -Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: inglese
Durata e modalità: 4 ore, online in diretta
Referente: Gruppo di Faculty Devolpment - Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano
Durata e modalità: 4 ore, online on-demand
Referente: Prof. Fantacci – Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 2 ore, in presenza
Referente: Prof. Ambrosini, Prof Bini, Prof. Bocchi, Prof. Borghini, Prof. Ravaglione, Prof.ssa Rossetti, Phd De Marinis– Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 5 ore (1 ora online on-demand, 4 ore in presenza)
The course consists of a lecture and a workshop on practical cases.
The lecture will discuss the theme of “open” innovation and the interactions between its key players, as well as the management of co-developed intellectual property. The workshop will focus on case studies, possibly provided by the participants, so as to have a practical and immediate follow-up.
Interested participants are required to send to [email protected] (at least one week before the beginning of the course) their past or present experiences of research projects that faced the issue of results management, property and use.
Instructor: Federica Marinoni - Intellectual Property Office, Deployment of Intellectual Property and Innovation Division, University of Milan.
Languages: Italian/English
Course edition in Italian
2 March 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Course edition in English
9 March 2023, 9:30 am- 11:30 am online
Basic knowledge and tools to build an effective LinkedIn profile, starting from how your personal brand is created on digital platforms. Effective self-communication through writing: tell your story in a relevant way and expand your network, increasing the chances of finding a job in line with your skills and expectations.
Instructor: FIND your DOC + COSP
Languages: Italian/English
Online
Course editions in Italian
GROUP 1
3 July 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
5 July 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
GROUP 2
5 July 2023, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
6 July 2023, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
GROUP 3
6 July 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
7 July 2023, 09:30 am - 12:30 pm
Course edition in English
GROUP 4
7 July 2023, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
10 July 2023, 09:30 am - 12:30 pm
Registration for the course is mandatory (link).
There are 100 places available for each group and it is possible to register for one edition only, choosing from the 4 scheduled sessions. Any double registrations will be both cancelled. Registered participants will receive instructions for joining the online sessions the day before the chosen date. In cooperation with the Post-Graduate Guidance and Placement Services of COSP - University Study and Career Guidance Service.
The course aims to present and discuss how to organise a dissemination/communication plan of research findings. It will be followed by a practical session where participants will design a dissemination plan.
Instructor: Professor Ivano Eberini - University of Milan
Languages: Italian/English
Course editions in Italian
GROUP 1
Part I: 7 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm in-person lecture: room 201 - Via Festa del Perdono 3
Part II: 4 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LINK TEAMS
GROUP 2
Part I: 8 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm in-person lecture: room 208 - Via Celoria 18, Building 3
Part II: 11 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LINK TEAMS
Course edition in English
GROUP 3
Part I: 9 February 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm in-person lecture: room 208 - Via Celoria 18, Building 3
Part II: 18 July 2023, 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LINK TEAMS
The course will introduce essential tools, regulatory frameworks and managerial skills for creating spin-offs and start-ups, while encouraging individual and corporate entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Languages: Italian/English
Instructor: Deployment of Intellectual Property and Innovation Division, University of Milan
Course edition in Italian
Part I: 3 April 2023, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Part II: 4 April 2023, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Course edition in English
Part I: 17 April 2023, 3:00 pm 6:00 pm
Part II: 18 April 2023, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Internet has brought a sea change in research production, validation, assessment and dissemination. During the meeting we will address the issue of open science as a response and potential solution to the crisis of scientific communication. We will explore open science approaches, common prejudices and actual benefits. We will cover topics such as rights management, reproducibility of research, predatory journals and preprints. A part of the seminar will focus on policies and tools available at our University.
Instructor: Paola Galimberti, Performance, Quality Assurance, Assessment, and Open Science Policy Division of the University of Milan and Head of the Institutional Research Repository (Air)
Languages: Italian/English
Course editions in Italian
Scientific area
8 June 2023, 09:30 am - 11:30 am online
Medical area
9 June 2023, 09:30 am - 11:30 am online
Humanistic, socio-political, economic and legal area
12 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Course edition in English
All areas
13 June 2023, 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm online
Referente: Docko
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 3 ore, in presenza
Referente: Prof. Ambrosini, Prof Bini, Prof. Bocchi, Prof. Borghini, Prof. Ravaglione, Prof.ssa Rossetti, Phd De Marinis– Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano/inglese
Durata e modalità: 5 ore, online on-demand
Referente: Gruppo di Faculty Devolpment - Università degli Studi di Milano
Lingua: italiano
Durata e modalità: 4 ore, online on-demand