Vlerick partners the second edition of the Flemish PhD Cup
Every year, over 1,600 PhD studies are completed in Flanders. In the second edition of the Flemish PhD Cup, the non-profit organisation Scriptie vzw is challenging doctors to give an overview of their long research in just three minutes.
Flanders is a hotbed of excellent research. With the PhD Cup, Scriptie vzw aims to encourage young scientists and teach them how to showcase their research. “That’s a must, especially given the situation in the US, where anti-science stances are gaining ground, putting science under pressure. Therefore, the importance and the merits of scientific research must be highlighted to the general public more clearly. An initiative like the PhD Cup can definitely help in this regard,” explains Arnaud Zonderman, Coordinator of Scriptie vzw.

Andy Gijbels, winner of the Flemish PhD Cup 2016
Intensive training
The PhD Cup encourages newly promoted doctors in all fields to share their research with the world by posing them quite a challenge: showcase the essence of your research in a clear three-minute presentation for the public, the jury and the cameras. Before embarking on this task, the participants will enjoy an intensive media and communication training course by two experts, Ivan De Vadder and Wim De Vilder (Flemish radio and television broadcasting organisation, VRT), who will teach them how to pour their research into an accessible presentation for a wider audience.
Seeking: doctors
The competition comprises several rounds, ending with the final on 2 October, which can be followed live online. During this prestigious event at Handelsbeurs in Ghent, eight young researchers will battle for the prize, a 10,000-euro programme at Vlerick Business School. The audience will also have a say by choosing the public winner. Anyone who’s obtained their PhD in the past year and a half can register on www.phdcup.be. Registrations close at the end of June.
The Flemish PhD Cup is an initiative launched by Scriptie vzw in collaboration with the following partners:
The Ernest Solvay Fund – Vlerick Business School – The City of Ghent – Research Foundation Flanders – Canvas – De Morgen – Eos – Deloitte - De Jonge Academie - The Floor is Yours – The Flemish Government – Richting Morgen