Back from Switzerland aka Some thoughts on the ECIS DC
Ui, this was an exciting week.
However, the best part of the week was the ECIS doctoral consortium. It took place at 1600 meters above sea level in the Swiss alps. This is the view from my room:
I checked whether you could buy land there, but it is not possible. During the winter the whole valley is not passable. They do not have broadband internet there. But I will definitely return for vacational purposes 
.
So, what are the main take-aways from the DC?
- I got to know to 18 people from across Europe (my future competitors and/or my future allies )
- I realized how diverse the IS discipline is
- It takes some time to explain the “German-style” research
- I now know how to make cheese (it involves getting up at sun rise, processing 400 liters of cow milk and 100 liters of goat milk a day, getting to bed at sun set - but the cheese maker appeared to be a very happy man)
Of course, I got some very useful comments on my PhD proposal. I now have to start to digest the comments…
Erik van Heck (Professor at RSM Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands) presented a hiking-oriented view on getting to the the PhD top:
The first top is roughly around the time when you have finished your PhD proposal (so that is where I am). As you can see, a long and obviously rainy journey lays ahead. Furthermore, the actual PhD top is not yet in sight (some clouds, I suppose).
Overall, the DC provided me with an umbrella and some good hiking boots for the long journey. Thanks to everyone!
