Our Mission
The International PhD Advisory Council (IPAC) is an organization supported by the Faculty of Engineering Science at KU Leuven and it brings together representatives from each of the faculty’s departments. Department representatives are all motivated and experienced PhD students who believe a PhD @ KU Leuven is a unique life experience, and even more personal growth is possible if PhDs mutually support, motivate, and organize themselves. The main mission of IPAC is to make everyone feel at home, supported, and cared for at the Faculty of Engineering Science while making friends and memories together. We organize formal and informal gatherings where you can meet with your peers!
Our Mission
The need for more representation of international PhD students came from the observation that for many international PhD students, it is hard to figure out many important aspects related to living in Belgium and KU Leuven. While the information sessions organised by KU Leuven are very good, there is still a need for clear information for students working on the Arenberg campus, living near Leuven, and arriving from abroad. IPAC representatives discussed that there is a need for accessible information in English for PhD students across the many possible funding situations related to Housing, Transport, Personal Leave, Health Insurance, Courses, Communication with Supervisors, and also what PhD students can do after work to maintain a good work-life balance. An overview is given in the side Figure. The long-term mission of IPAC is to make it easier for international students to deal with issues arising from each of these topics. More topics can be added later if there are changing needs.
IPAC Values
Create a Sense of Belonging: The goal of IPAC together with the Faculty of Engineering science is to make all individual PhD students feel like a community and make Leuven and the faculty a warm and welcoming home to all. The international PhD students are heard and are an integral part of the faculty.
Foster an Inclusive Community: One of the primary objectives of IPAC is to create a welcoming and inclusive community for international doctoral students. This includes providing support and resources for students who are adjusting to a new academic and cultural environment. IPAC amplifies the voices of the PhD students that are not always heard and becomes an ally to them.
Promote Connection: IPAC aims to promote socializing among doctoral students from different fields of study and facilitates networking events, workshops, and seminars, but also organizes after work and informal activities.
Notice the Needs of International PhD Students: IPAC is committed to advocating for the needs and challenges of international doctoral students by providing information, support and, if needed, help into overcoming the integration in a new community. IPAC gives international PhD students a platform to express their needs.
Provide Professional Development Opportunities: IPAC provides personal development opportunities by connecting students with workshops and seminars essential for succeeding in PhD milestones.
Support Well-being: IPAC recognizes that pursuing a doctoral degree can be a challenging and stressful experience, that is why it provides fun and interesting activities which help to break the routine and meet peers struggling with the same challenges. IPAC uses it’s reach to inform peers of initiatives within and outside of KU Leuven.
Meet The Team
Katia Ritoša
Kerim Yildirim
Márton Bognár
Abdul Saboor
Benedetta Attaianese
