Evaluation Summary: “Pitch your Research” Workshop 2025
At 4TU.Energy, we recognise that we can go the extra mile by investing in outreach and professional development for our community, in addition to our research and educational work. Therefore, every year, we organise the 'Pitch your Research' workshop for PhD candidates before our annual PhD course, as pre-course training. The knowledge gained will also be used during the PhD course pitch session.
This year marked the third time that ElroyCOM Training, a company with 20 years of experience in providing communication training for scientists, held the workshop 'Pitch Your Research'. The trainers at ElroyCOM Training have an in-depth understanding of the role of the scientist, the communication styles used in academia on a daily basis, and how to bridge the gap between scientists and a wider audience.
As in previous years, PhD candidates who participated in this year's training gave overwhelmingly positive ratings of the effectiveness, practical application and content of the workshops. We would like to thank ElroyCOM Training and all participants for their commitment and hard work.
Below, we have summarised the anonymous evaluation results. We hope to see more committed participants next year!
Overall Workshop Feedback 2025
In November 2025, the 4TU.Energy PhD Pitch Training was attended by 27 dedicated PhD candidates divided into 3 workshops. The workshop received an outstanding overall rating of 4.73 out of 5, underscoring its continued effectiveness and relevance to participants. Table 1 shows a break down of the scores:
Trainer and Actor Performance
Both the trainer and the training actor were highly praised for their contributions. Participants commended their professionalism, engagement, and the practical value of the role-playing exercises, which were deemed instrumental in enhancing learning outcomes.
Workshop Speed and Duration
While the majority of participants found the workshop’s pace and duration appropriate, some noted that the intensity was challenging. A three-hour workshop is quite a time investment.
Materials and Learning Outcomes
The workshop materials, including handouts, were generally well-received. However, a small subset of participants (2 out of 9) in the first session expressed neutral satisfaction with the learning materials, which was reflected in their midrange evaluation of learning outcomes. All other participants, across subsequent sessions, rated the materials and outcomes positively. The balance between theoretical instruction and practical application was universally appreciated.
Recommendations
All participants indicated they would recommend the workshop to their peers, affirming its value.
Conclusion of the 2025 evaluation “Pitch your Research”
While we could explore adjustments to the workshop’s pacing and additional support for participants, we would like to advise future participants that this workshop is intensive and offers a rich learning experience. We look forward to next year’s edition!