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Recruitment and Selection
The Research Assistant, previously known as AIO or OIO, has a temporary appointment at Wageningen University, usually for a period of 4 years (full-time employment).
After the proposed research project has been approved by the Graduate School the procedures for selection and appointment of the PhD candidate can start. The administration of the department, or the scientific director of the Graduate School on behalf of its administration, appoints an application committee. Candidates are recruited and selected through vacancy announcements and interviews. Once selected, the candidate is appointed as a Research Assistant for a period of 4 years at the department concerned.
Employment
The Research Assistant is generally given a full-time position in temporary service for a maximum of four years. The objectives of the appointment are stipulated in the contract. At the request of the parties involved, the Executive Board of the university can appoint the PhD candidate to a 0.8 (80% of full-time) position for a maximum of five years. In exceptional cases the appointment can be extended by a maximum of one year. The request for extension must be submitted to the personnel consultant of the relevant department bureau no later than six months before the contract expires.
Detailed regulations regarding employment regulations can be found in the Collective Employment Agreement or CAO (collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst). It is available in English and Dutch via the link below or at the Human Resources Management departments.
- The CAO Dutch Universities (in Dutch and English) via the
VSNU website.
Flexible Working Hours
As of 1 January 2005, the ADV regulations (reduction of working hours) no longer exist. Research Assistants (AIOs) who were already employees before this date have received a letter explaining a transition phase towards a new model of a flexible working week. New employees are given the option to increase or decrease the standard 38 hour week by 2 hours. An employee can make an agreement with his or her employer once a year regarding his/her working hours. For more details on the regulations of flexible working hours, contact your personnel consultant or visit the HRM website www.wur.nl/hrm.
Social Security
Available at the ABVAKABO-FNV website (in Dutch) http://www.abvakabo.nl/universiteiten:
Social security arrangements of the Dutch Universities
| BWNU |
Besluit Werkloosheid Nederlandse Universiteiten |
| TBWNU |
toelichting BWNU |
| ZANU |
Tijdelijk besluit ziekte en arbeidsongeschiktheid onderwijs- en onderzoekpersoneel |
| ZNU deel A |
deel A - interim-regeling ziektekosten |
| ZNU deel B |
deel B - tegemoetkoming in ziektekosten |
Salary
Info on Research Assistants salaries is available via 'FINANCE' in the menu.
direct link: information about salary
Research Assistant Regulations (in Dutch)
In addition to the Collective Employment Agreement (CAO), Wageningen University has set out specific regulations concerning its PhD candidates with a temporary contract. The Research Assistant regulations of Wageningen University can be found via the following link:
AIO Reglement van Wageningen Universiteit (Source: HRM intranet website, limited access)
HRM Personnel Advisors
When a Research Assistant is appointed, he/she must meet with the personnel advisor of the Human Resources Management department (HRM). The Research Assistant can approach this advisor with matters concerning: legal status, problems regarding supervision or other personnel issues. Besides the HRM advisor, Research Assistants can also turn to the PhD consultant of their Graduate Schools when problems arise.
For the HRM advisor of your Department click here for English information, or visit the HRM site on this topic (in Dutch).
Evaluation & Go / No-Go Decision
The first work evaluation takes place approximately one year following the appointment. After this evaluation a decision will be made if the appointment of the PhD candidate should be continued or prematurely terminated. The PhD candidate’s supervisor will evaluate a candidate’s qualities and progress in the PhD programme against the background of the Training and Supervision Plan and the objectives of the appointment. If a PhD candidate objects to the outcome of the evaluation, there is an extensive grievance procedure (see below).
Following termination of the appointment (also with premature termination), a signed certificate is provided by the Executive Board of the university. This certificate always contains a short overview of the research which has been carried out including a list of publications, an overview of the training and education which has been followed and an overview of the contribution which the Research Assistant has provided to undergraduate education. If the appointment ends with a promotion to the degree of doctor, a doctoral degree certificate is awarded.
Notice of Objection
If the interests of an Research Assistant are directly affected by a decision of an official body concerned with his or her training and education, he/she can, within six weeks after he/she has been given notice of this decision, submit a written and well-reasoned notice of objection to the relevant official body or, in certain cases, to the Executive Board of the University (for more information see the AIO regulations [in Dutch, limited access])