This week marks the beginning of another academic year at Dutch universities. For many students, it means returning to campus after summer holidays or work. For international students, it represents an exciting leap into a new country and educational journey. For me, it signals one of the busiest periods of the year – and the chance to focus on one of my favorite aspects of academic life: teaching.

I love teaching. This isn’t a secret to those who know me; it’s one of the main reasons I remain in academia. Yet this passion would have surprised the person I was when I started my PhD. I vividly remember receiving my offer from the University of Geneva, carefully reading through the teaching hours and student supervision requirements. I was crippling with anxiety. Me, teaching? What if I don’t know the answer to a student’s question? What if they know more than I do? What if I give them incorrect information? What if some students are older than me and won’t respect my authority?

How things have changed over the past fifteen years! With each lecture delivered and student mentored, I’ve discovered increasing joy, fulfillment, and purpose in education. While we often focus on research impact, I believe our educational influence on society runs even deeper and broader: we’re shaping tomorrow’s scientists.

The challenge, of course, is that teaching demands significant time and energy – something PhD students and postdocs involved in student supervision know all too well. This has become particularly pressing in Dutch universities, where budget cuts have led some institutions to reduce spending on student assistants and teaching staff, shifting these responsibilities onto PhD students.

If you’re a PhD student or postdoc facing increased supervision and teaching duties, how can you approach this challenge efficiently and meaningfully?

• Seek support from supervisors and colleagues. Teaching and supervising requires time, energy, careful planning, and flexibility – especially when you’re new to education. Don’t hesitate to ask experienced colleagues for help during preparation. They can share valuable resources (slides, teaching materials), discuss project planning and content, and clarify expectations. Understanding whether you’re expected to take full leadership or report back regularly can make all the difference.
• Recognize the skills you’re developing. Student supervision builds invaluable competencies for your next career step: leadership, project management, time management, feedback delivery, communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. These ‘soft’ skills are highly valued by employers across all sectors, whether you’ll work in or outside academia at a later stage.
• Find fulfillment in the impact. In conversations with early-career researchers, I frequently hear that supervising and mentoring students brings a great sense of purpose – the knowledge that you’re genuinely impacting someone’s life and career trajectory. When days feel overwhelming and chaotic, take a moment to breathe and remember why you’re doing this work.
• Learn to negotiate and set boundaries. Early-career researchers often assume they have no choice but to accept excessive student loads or teaching assignments they dread. If you’re unsatisfied with your educational duties, strike up a conversation with your supervisors. Share your concerns and explore alternatives. Supervisors, often overwhelmed themselves, may not fully grasp your actual workload. While options may be limited, there’s frequently room for adjustment, such as fewer students, co-supervision arrangements, or delayed start dates.
• Think beyond the classroom. Students aren’t just learners; they’re future professionals who naturally become part of your network through supervision. This represents an excellent opportunity for network expansion. Years later, these individuals might help you find new positions, become collaborators, or even close friends. Several students I’ve mentored have become colleagues, external collaborators, workshop clients, and/or friends.

Education stands alongside research as a cornerstone of universities and research institutes. While teaching and supervising students demands substantial time and energy, potentially adding pressure and stress, it offers rewards far beyond the simple satisfaction of seeing a student pass a course or complete an internship.

Through education, you develop essential skills for your future career, create meaningful societal impact by shaping the next generation of scientists, and naturally expand both your professional and personal networks. Teaching and supervising students remind us of one fundamental truth: our work has the power to transform lives!