https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/S_PGL1The general aim of the Peer Group Learning Year 1 course is to create a community of students who support each other in navigating the Research Master program and to prepare for future career paths, guided by the principles of self-directed learning and responsible research. Peer Group Learning contributes to meeting the exit qualifications of the Research Master program in judgment formation, communication, and learning skills.Students meet in fortnightly informal peer group learning sessions. Together, they discuss their preferred career profile (e.g. researcher, advisor, or analyst), their personal development plan to build this profile, their progress and experiences related to this plan and the courses in the program, and they reflect on and build a portfolio of products that highlights their profile. While guided by the course coordinator, students are actively involved in organising the sessions and set the agenda based on their learning needs. The course content and structure are based on insights from self-directed learning. Self-directed learning is an essential learning skill that enables students to plan, track, and reflect on their own learning process, and prepares them for the labour market. Learning, however, is not an isolated activity, but takes place in dialogue with a community of learners that includes peers, academic staff, alumni, and societal partners.Interactive sessions: Guided by the course coordinator, students workshop topics and issues related to the Research Master. Examples are reflecting on career paths, working towards a professional portfolio, strategic reading, and peer feedback. There is room for students to bring in topics and issues they want to discuss. The duration of the plenary workshops is 1 hour and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute break. Guest presentations and field trips: These are organised by students. The duration of guest lectures or field trips is 1 hour and 45 minutes.Assessment of this course takes place in the course Research Integrity and Responsible Scholarship (Y1). Passing the Peer Group Learning courses (Y1 and Y2) is conditional upon: consistent attendance and active participation in the sessions, and reflection on the development of the professional portfolio.First-year students of the Research Master Social Sciences for a Digital Society