Building training bridges between academia and the world of work

With this initiative, the PhD Talent Coordination Team aims to systematically involve selected PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in regular internal company training programmes. These may include both discipline-specific topics and broader professional competencies, such as project management, leadership, agility and adaptability, innovation processes, stakeholder management, and entrepreneurship.

Through this initiative, we seek to expose researchers more directly to professional learning environments outside academia, while also building sustainable bridges between knowledge institutions and industry.

What is In‑Company Training – in a nutshell?

In‑Company Training allows PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to join the same internal training programmes as company staff, ensuring:

• alignment with real workplace needs
• exposure to professional cultures and practices
• authentic, practice-oriented skill development

Why In‑Company Training?

>>> We see clear opportunities for participating organisations:

• Access to a highly skilled talent pool
  In‑Company Training can serve as a talent pipeline, enabling organisations to identify and engage promising PhD talent at an early stage, increasing visibility as a PhD-friendly organisation and highlighting workplace culture.
• Active role in building “real life training bridges”
  Supporting closer alignment and strengthening the connection between academic training and evolving labour market realities.
• Mutual learning and exchange
  PhD researchers bring analytical expertise, innovation thinking and fresh perspectives to the organisation.

>>> For researchers

• Smoother transition to the labour market
  Learning  within organisations is widely recognised across Europe as a best practice for strengthening PhD career pathways and improving employability.
• Acquisition of transferable skills
  Opportunities to strengthen communication, leadership, teamwork, project management, and other competencies valued both within and beyond academia.
• Expanded professional network
  Direct interaction with professionals, industry partners, and potential employers helps build long-term professional connections.
• Stronger CV profile
  Demonstrated experience in a non‑academic setting enhances career prospects.

How does it work

>>> For companies & organisations

At this stage, we are still exploring the concept. We would therefore be very interested to hear whether this idea resonates with your organisation and whether there might be openness to further discussion.

Please do contact us: PhDtalent@vlir.be

>>> For PhD and postdoctoral researcher

We will communicate as soon as possible.

Who is behind this initiative?

The In‑Company Training initiative is developed by the PhD Talent Coordination Team, a VLIR interuniversity working group bringing together doctoral schools and career centers of the five Flemish universities.

Our mission is to:

• encourage and facilitate the flow of PhD talent to the knowledge economy
• align transferable skills training with labour market expectations
• unlock and demystify non‑academic career paths