Our vision

Nobody was born as a top researcher. Predisposition is important, but only one of the factors leading to success. Many of these factors are trainable skills. Not what you are, but what you do or learn decides if the top is reached. That makes training and educating a critical success factor for any knowledge institution.

Training of skills that contribute to academic talent works best if it happens from a vision that takes the academic practice into account. Therefore we think the development of academic skills should focus on the four fundamental aspects of any academic career: research, education, raising research money and governance.

Furthermore, we distinguish four coherent fields of training: self-management, idea-management, milieu-management, and task-management. Academic research starts with the personal motivation and curiosity. After that it is important to share knowledge in a convincing way with others (e.g. education and fund-raising). When this is successfully done (and an own research group has been formed) management becomes part of the job.

Self-management

Given the predisposition and life lessons, everyone has developed an own mindset. This determines how we react to different situations. Key words: self-reflection, motivation and academic integrity. Training tools: coaching and intervision.

Milieu-management

To reach your goal, it is necessary to influence others successfully and convince them with your message. Key words: cooperation, communication, and persuasiveness. Training tools: communication, media and presentation training, coaching.

Idea-management

It takes at least ten years to reach the top of any given academic field. Having enough knowledge is therefore a necessity. The ability to generate new ideas makes the difference between good and great researchers. Key words: knowledge, empirical cycle, and creativity. Training tools: conferences, meta cognition (e.g. critical thinking), creativity training.

Task-management

Every successful academic researcher takes sooner or later part in the governance of his/her organisation. Key words: strategy, governance, excecution of policies. Training tools: operation, HRM and finance.