The number of PhD graduates is increasing globally. This highly educated subgroup is exposed to precarious work conditions and a rapidly changing labour market imposing novel careers across sectors throughout working life. There are age, gender, and ethnicity inequalities for PhD graduates’ transitions to and within the labour market demonstrating knowledge needs and skills matching. Higher education and especially PhD education needs to address those challenges, and one approach to do so is work-integrated learning (WIL).

WIL is an untapped resource for PhD graduates, as it is usually applied during undergraduate education. WIL in PhD education differs from WIL on bachelor and master level, due to the specificity of PhD projects and disciplines, as well as the expected responsibility and independence of PhD students compared to undergraduate students. Generic and specific skills are required in the labour market and PhD graduates must be ready to present and translate their skills to potential employers. WIL can provide improved networking skills with employers both inside and outside of academia, and better prepare PhD students for the transition to work after graduation.

We have developed a pilot course in Strategic career planning via work-integrated learning for PhD students. Based on preparatory workshops with PhD students and supervisors, the need for the course was evident. In the current interactive, hybrid course the participants come from different countries and disciplines and course is currently ongoing. Interactive pedagogical tools are applied in the course, such as Feedforward, Liberating Structures, Miro and FeedbackFruits.

As WIL in PhD education is novel, this presentation shows how WIL can be integrated in course design on PhD level, in a way that enhances PhD students´ career crafting, independence and skills matching for the labour market in various contexts. The intention of the course is also to ensure life to promote individuals´ lifelong ability to take responsibility for competence matching and transitions in working life, which is beneficial for their career, societal and industrial needs in a changing labour market.

Keywords: Strategic career planning, PhD education, work-integrated learning.