Transferable Skills Program for (Post)Docs
Transferable Skills - Key Qualifications for your academic and non-academic Career
- individual feedback from experts
- intensive learning in small groups
- multidisciplinary networking
Transferable skills are competencies acquired in one context that can be applied to other contexts, jobs, positions, functions or fields of work. A case in point are good project management skills, required in both research and various other fields (construction projects, development projects, advertising or election campaigns).
Program

Do you have the right tool for your career?
flyer_TS.pdf (PDF, 503KB)Please note possible overlaps of workshops, please only register for workshops not overlapping. Thank you. Note: In case you register for workshops that take place partly in parallel, the TS Program will decide which of your registration will be cancelled.
Note: Please do not register for 'How to design a scientific poster and use it for academic networking' and for 'Best practices for storytelling with your scientific presentation'. Due to overlap in contents, lecturers do not accept a person in both formats. In case you do, both registrations will be cancelled for reasons of fairness.
Title | Dates |
---|---|
How to formulate an effective data plan for your grant | 4.-5.09.2023 08:30-16:00 |
Public Speaking for Scientists | 08./29.09 & 06 /13.10.2023 13-17:00 |
Introduction to Python programming, and data analysis and visualization | 12., 19., 26.09. & 03., 10., 17.10.23 09:15-12 (03. & 17.10. 14:15-17) |
Scientific Writing for Publication: Essential Skills for Early-Career Researchers | 12., 19., 26.09. & 10.10.2023 14-17:30 |
Getting Started with 'R' - Analyzing and Visualizing your Statistical Data | 13.-15.09.2023 08-16:00 |
How to illustrate your research results: Creating advanced vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator CC, online | 18./25.09.2023 09-12:30 |
Project Management - a toolbox for scientists | 21./22.09.2023 09-17:00 |
Creating vector graphics with Adobe Illustrator | 28.09. & 05.10.2023 14-17:30 |
Writing and Peer Reviewing for Publication in the Humanities and Social Sciences | 03.10., 17.10., 31.10. & 14.11.2023 08:30-12:00 |
Project management practise for efficient research | 09/16.10.2023 08:30-17:00 |
Negotiation Skills: Improving your negotiation effectiveness | 18. & 25.10.2023 09-16:30 |
Best Practices for Storytelling with your scientific Presentation | 19. & 23.10.2023 09-17:00 |
How to design a scientific poster and use it for academic networking | 20. & 24.10.2023 09-17:00 |
Self-Leadership | 26.10. & 02.11.2023 14-17:30 |
How to write a competitive research grant proposal and fellowship application | 27.10. & 03., 10.11.2023 08:30-12:00 |
Planning and applying for a professional career outside academia | 30.10. & 06.11.2023 10-18:00 |
What researchers need to know about systematic searching before publication | 02.11.2023 09:15-12:00 |
Public Speaking for Scientists | 03., 10., 17. & 24.11.2023 13-17:00 |
Introduction to Data Science with Python | 07.-09.11.2023 09-17:00 |
How to write a competitive research grant proposal and fellowship application | 13., 20. & 27.11.2023 08:30-12:00 |
Scientific Integrity | 16.11.2023 12:15-14:00 |
Planning and applying for a professional career outside academia | 21. & 28.11.2023 10-18:00 |
Getting Started with 'R' - Analyzing and Visualizing your Statistical Data | 22.-24.11.2023 08-16:00 |
Scientific Writing for English-Language Publication in the Life Sciences and the Medicine | 23. & 30.11., 07. & 14.12.2023 9:30-15:30 |
Introduction to budgeting in research grant applications or related projects | 29.11.2023 10-12:00 |
Introduction to Research Data Management | 04./05.12.2023 09-17:00 |
How to finance your Open Access Publication | 12.12.2023 10:15-12:00 |
In addition, several other bodies of the University of Bern offer various courses dedicated to transferable skills and other academic offers for doctoral candidates and/or postdocs.
The course program ”Transferable Skills“ is a project of the Vice-Rectorate Development within the scope of the sub-strategy of the “targeted promotion of the academics of the future” of the university's “Strategy 2021”.
As well as earning an academic qualification, i.e. the thesis, the goal of a PhD education at the University of Bern is to acquire transferable skills so as to prepare PhD candidates for a demanding position within or outside of academia.
A further goal is to help postdocs advance in their academic career. Thus, the courses offered also give postdocs the chance to further develop relevant skills and enhance their professional profile.
Certification of such skills is seen as a competitive advantage in the labour market, which is why certificates of attendance are issued (for one day courses or longer) to document these achievements.
The course program ”Transferable Skills“ is free of charge for postdocs and doctoral candidates of the University of Bern. ECTS are entered into the Core Teaching System of University of Bern, the decision as to whether or not academic achievements shall be recognized or considered as a part of a candidate’s doctoral studies lies with the faculties and graduate schools. Please note the Terms & Conditions below. As far as is useful and possible, a product is developed in each workshop, with individual feedback provided by the lecturers.