Nordic Conference on PhD Supervision (CoPhS)

28-30 September 2026, Uppsala

Welcome to Uppsala!

The conference is organized in one of the Nordic countries and held every second year. The purpose of the conference is to offer an arena where participants are inspired, exchange experiences and thoughts regarding the supervision of PhD-students.

Please find the instructions for each of the different contribution categories below: 

Oral presentation

20-minute oral presentation in a session featuring several presenters who share a common topic, including questions by the audience.  Bring your own computer or a USB-stick. As a presenter, we ask you to come to the lecture room in one of the longer breaks in advance to upload your presentation. Conference staff will be there to serve you.

Workshop

55-minute session providing a deep dive wherein participants are actively, tangibly engaged in their learning, via collaboration and hands-on interaction. Workshop presenters generally spend less than half of the session sharing their ideas, using the remaining time engaged in activity that promotes interaction and discussion, ending with a takeaway for participants. Whiteboards, ‘magic sharts’ and pens will be available.

Round table discussion

20-minute table-based, small-group, guided discussion about a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. The roundtable presenter shares their ideas and promotes the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their attendees. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to dwell into important and interesting topics. 

The lecture room is flexible and organised with tables for smaller groups. Whiteboards and magic charts will be available.

Stop & share

A 10 minute interactive knowledge-sharing format for presenting and discussing projects, research findings, hot topics, or best practices, or sharing of problematic/concerning experiences in supervision. Participants move between tables, engaging in informal conversations and knowledge exchange. 

At this conference, presenters will have two opportunities to share their work:

First, you will be assigned a fixed time slot in the conference programme. During this time slot, you will have your own table where you can present and discuss your topic with participants. You will find details about your time and location in the conference programme.

Second, you will also have the opportunity to present in the open conference area, where posters will also be displayed. Ask a conference staff member, collect a sign with your topic, and choose an available table. Participants can then stop by your table and take part in the discussion.

The practical format: 
  1. Arrive at your table before your session starts, place your topic sign visible, and be ready to welcome participants.
  2. You may begin with a short introduction to your topic and then open the conversation for questions, comments, reflections and discussion. Each Stop and Share round lasts 10 minutes. You can show a handout or slides using your own computer, or simply lead a discussion. Whiteboards will be available. 

Poster

Research/studies/reports are presented on poster, format (portrait) 841 x 1189 mm (A0). In the poster sessions, attendees can mingle and interact with the poster presenters. 

Please go to the conference area in ”Ulls Hus” to put up your poster yourself or leave your poster at the registration and it will be put up for you.

At this conference, posters will be on display during the whole conference. The poster presenters will have two opportunities to share their work:

First, in the conference programme there will be a time slot for a poster session.

Second, you will also have the opportunity to present your poster in the open conference area during the entire conference, for example within coffee and lunch breaks.

Preliminary programme

28 September 18:00–20:00  Welcome ceremony at Uppsala castle including light refreshments
29 September
9:00–9:15  Welcome address by Pro Vice Chancellor Ylva Hillbur (SLU) and Deputy Vice Chancellor Coco Norén (UU)
 

9:15–10:15 

Keynote by Kirsi Pyhältö

 

10:45–12:00 

Contributed sessions

 

12:00–13:00 

Lunch

 

13:00–14:00 

Keynote by Karen Clegg

 

14:30–17:00 

Contributed sessions

 

19:00 

Conference dinner at Norrlands Nation

30 September

9:00–10:00 

Keynote by Rune Johan Krumsvik                                                

 

10:20–12:00  

Contributed sessions

 

12:00 

Conference closing and lunchbag

 

Transportation

It is easy to get to and from Uppsala by flying to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and then get a connecting train or bus to Uppsala. If you are travelling by train there are frequent arrivals in Uppsala from all over Sweden.

It is easy to get from downtown Uppsala to the conference site at SLU Ultuna and information can be found here; SLU Uppsala

Accommodation

Rooms have been pre-booked between 28 and 30 September 2026 at several recommended hotels in Uppsala. You can only book the conference rate and room block through the booking channels on this page. Please follow the respective instructions to book at the conference rate. 

Rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For information about cancellation terms, please check with the hotel when making your reservation.

Scandic Uplandia                    

1590 SEK/night

The conference rate and rooms are available until 29 August 2026. Book at Scandic Uplandia’s booking page: Scandic Uplandia | Scandic Hotels

Clarion Hotel Gillet

1695 SEK/night

The conference rate and rooms are available until 13 August 2026. Book at Clarion Hotel Gillet’s booking page: Clarion Hotel Gillet 

Radisson Blu Uppsala

Radisson Blu Uppsala offers 20% off the current rate when booking through the link below. Prices are dynamic and rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The conference rate and rooms are available until 4 August 2026. Book at Radisson Blu Uppsala’s booking page: Rooms at Radisson Blu Uppsala

Hotel Svava

  • 1 single room           1895 SEK/night
  • Shared double          2095 SEK/night

The conference rate and rooms are available until 17 August 2026. Book at Hotel Svava: Hotel Svava 

The conference fee is 5000 SEK.  

It includes

  • a welcome reception in the evening of the 28th of September,
  • the conference dinner, lunch and coffee on the  29th of September,
  • coffee and a take-away lunch on 30th of September.

 

Conference registration (open)

 

 

Ann Grubbström, Educational Developer, SLU, Unit of Educational Development

Cecilia Almlöv, Head of Unit, SLU, Unit of Educational Development

Henrik Viberg, Educational Developer SLU, Unit of Educational Development

Anette Månsson, Educational Developer,Academic Teaching and Learning, Uppsala University

Cesar Pay Gómez, Educational Developer,Academic Teaching and Learning, Uppsala University

Helena Lindqvist, Educational Developer,Academic Teaching and Learning, Uppsala University

Susanne Mirbt, Head of Unit, Academic Teaching and Learning, Uppsala University

Logos for SLU and Uppsala university

Organizers

Keynote speakers

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The aims of the conference are to:

  • highlight and share experiences regarding the current development of PhD supervision.
  • present and discuss new research on PhD supervision.
  • jointly analyze background, present situation and the future of PhD supervision, in order to promote and strengthen postgraduate education.
  • intercept and spread the ongoing conversation within PhD supervision.

Target Groups

  • PhD supervisors with different experiences of supervision,
  • Trainers of PhD supervision
  • Researchers who are conducting or would like to conduct  research that contributes to improving PhD supervision in the Nordic region,
  • Research leaders with extensive experience in doctoral supervision,
  • Decision makers / policy makers / operational managers / educational leaders (directors of studies, faculty management, research education committee) for research education.
  • CONTACT

    For questions, thoughts, and good ideas.