The PhD Kick-off that was HYVÄT’s first effort in line of providing better introductory events and materials for new PhD students successfully took place at the City Hall last Tuesday October 31st. It was visited by around 200 new PhD students with 34 different nationalities. This pilot event was organised as a collaboration between the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki, and HYVÄT, and it is now planned to take place twice a year.
The formal programme consisted of some introductory words by the city manager Sami Sarvilinna and the rector Jukka Kola, after which HYVÄT was presented by the chair Julia von Boguslawski. Then Maija Urponen explained how doctoral education works at the university, and Carol Kiriakos gave a talk reminding us that it is fully possible to have a life while writing the PhD.
After the speeches, the participants enjoyed some wine and snacks while mingling and checking out the organisations who were present to offer information on various things related to PhD life: living in Helsinki, PhD studies, career service, well-being, sports, and scientific societies.