The Berlin University Alliance (BUA) is an alliance of the FU Berlin, HU Berlin, TU Berlin and Charité with the aim of creating a joint research environment in Berlin. All workshops and events of the Graduate Studies Support Program are funded by the BUA and free of charge.
Participation
Doctoral researchers (all disciplines) of the Berlin University Alliance in their first year.
Before booking a workshop, please make sure that you can attend for the entire duration to receive a certificate. Please check our terms and conditions.
Objectives
When you are dealing with a challenging situation with a supervisor as an international doctoral supervisor, it is easy to second-guess yourself, or to feel frustrated because you have different expectations. Is it them? Is it me? Is this a German thing? Using your own experiences and case studies, we will explore how to approach conversations and conflicts with your supervisor when you are talking across cultures, and how to navigate conflicts and difficult conversations.
Content
- When and how does culture play a role in our expectations?
- What do I expect from my supervisor? What’s the role of a supervisor in Germany?
- How can I approach my supervisor with difficult questions or requests?
- What do I do when I need something from my supervisor that they're not giving me?
Please note
For updates and announcements register to our DRS Newsletter.
Also check out workshops at the BUA partner institutions that are available for you free of charge: Graduate Studies Support Program.
For workshops held online, participation is allowed under the following conditions: a working camera that is turned on and a microphone to allow active participation in discussions and group work. Headphones must also be used to protect other participants from office eavesdroppers. Regardless of on-site or online workshops, we would like to refer to the rules at Freie Universität Berlin, which can be found in the Code of Conduct.
Further Information
Postdocs are welcome to participate if spots are available.
Doctoral programs calculate credits based on the number of work units earned through workshop participation. Each work unit represents 45 minutes of workshop time, and 8 work units equal 0.5 credit points. For mini workshops (less than 8 work units), credits are calculated proportionally based on the work units. Please note: To be eligible for credit transfer, you must accumulate enough work units from short workshops. For example, attending two 3-hour workshops results in 8 work units (2 workshops x 4 work units each), which equals 0.5 credits.