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Peer coaching

Last updated on 15 October 2024
Are you a PhD or postdoc and would you like to participate in peer coaching at VU Amsterdam?

Young researchers often run into the same issues in their work. The need may arise to reach new insights together with other peers - colleagues who have a similar job. In peer coaching, you help each other in groups under the guidance of a facilitator with work-related questions and bottlenecks. You discuss cases and come up with new ideas and solutions.

About the programme

Under the guidance of a facilitator, 8 to 10 peers come together to help each other with work and job-related issues and obstacles during structured meetings. You discuss case histories using an efficient question-based approach and discover new insights. What is discussed is confidential. The facilitator ensures that a safe environment is created in which everyone can contribute her or his ideas and suggestions freely. Each meeting, you focus on a different practical work situation. During the group sessions you can share anything you are struggling with in your work. For example: How do I deal with the expectations of my supervisor? How do I deal with the high workload? 

You can sign up for the programme as a facilitator or as a peer. The selected 10 participants who indicate they want to become facilitators of a peer coaching group will receive a training that consists of 4 group meetings and an individual coaching session.

In March the facilitators will start the first part of their online training to learn how to guide the sessions. After this session, they plan 5 monthly meetings of 1,5 to 2 hours with their own group in which they can put what they have learned into practice. Both the training and the peer coaching meetings take place from March to mid-July 2024. After the final intervision session, you can decide as a group to continue the sessions yourself.

Registration and the costs

This peer coaching is for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers who are working at VU Amsterdam up to and including mid-July 2024. Participating in the peer coaching is free of charge, but not without obligation. We want to emphasise that peer coaching can only be a success if everyone is committed and attends the meetings. 

The registration for 2024 is closed. More information about the next session will follow in January 2026.

More information

  • What is peer coaching?

    Peer coaching is a solution-oriented coaching technique in which fellow professionals (colleagues at a similar point in their career), under the guidance of a facilitator, help each other with work and job-related issues and obstacles during structured meetings. You discuss case histories using an efficient question-based approach and discover new insights. 

  • What are reasons to participate in this programme?

    You can participate as a peer or as a facilitator.

    • Why participate as a peer?
      It is good to learn to look at a work situation you're dealing with from a different perspective. Peer coaching provides an opportunity to hear from others and learn how to deal with challenges in your job. The members of your peer group may have ideas that you hadn't thought of yourself. You may also recognize other people's challenges and learn from their experiences or problem approaches.
    • Why participate as a facilitator?
      Through training and practice, you will have the opportunity to learn how to lead peer coaching groups and improve your communication skills. You guard the structure of the sessions and provide a safe, open environment in which participants dare to express their thoughts and ideas. You make sure that peer coaching works! Facilitators receive a certificate after completing the training (and PhD facilitators receive 0,5 EC).

  • What is the time investment?
    • ...as a peer? About 10 hours (5 meetings of 1.5 to 2 hours)
    • ...as a facilitator? About 20 hours (4 training sessions of 2 hours and 1 coaching session of 1 hour besides the 5 meetings with your own peer group of 1.5 to 2 hours)

    Both facilitators and peers receive a reader with background information about peer coaching prior to participation.

  • How have previous editions of this programme been rated?

    After the last intervision session, programme participants were asked to fill in an evaluation form. The average rating of earlier editions is 4.2 on a 5-point scale. Several groups also decided not to stop and continue with peer coaching themselves.

    Quotes: 

    • "It has been a good support system to have others, who are on the same path as me, giving insights on how to navigate challenging times."
    • “It empowers facilitators and participants to see how much of their career trajectory can be influenced by themselves”
    • “Effectivity in my work and guidance on the journey of learning to be a researcher"
    • "More awareness of what is important to focus on, strategies, and a sense of community"
    • “The opportunity to meet new people, recognising struggles and opportunities of sharing experiences, learning about scientists at different faculties, in different fields"
    • “It helped us to perform better at work and feel happier”.

Read the Ad Valvas interview with other participants

Peer coaching for PhDs & postdocs: learn from and with each other

Questions or advice?

You can contact Lidy Stassen - director career coaching.

020 59 85 406 (Mon-Tue-Thu)

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