This event, held online from 12:00 to 14:00 CET on Oct. 25th, is brought to you by the ENLIGHT team working on the PROMOTION OF EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT & IMPROVE RESEARCHER ASSESSMENT section of the ENLIGHT-RISE project.
Early career researchers
Supporting early career researchers (ECRs) in developing leadership skills and advancing through training and development initiatives is a key commitment of all universities in the ENLIGHT alliance. Supporting inclusive leadership, training and development needs of early career researchers enhances the leadership capabilities and professional development of early career researchers, fostering a robust and dynamic research environment and developing a positive research culture within our institutions.
Outlined below is the ENLIGHT repository for which contains information on what training supports are available for ECRs in each of the ENLIGHT universities. Using this repository ECRs can check existing materials available within their own institution, in the main and the contact email address to get further information on such supports.
The repository is also useful for training providers within the alliance who wish to grow and develop their leadership and development training plans for ECRs by connecting with other professional development units across the alliance.
University of the Basque Country
The university of the Basque Country offers training and development initiatives, through a variety of support offices within the university – some of which are listed below. Researchers can avail of training options specifically tailored for researchers; training focused on teaching skills and qualifications and training for all staff on continuing professional and personal development is also available.
EHUrOPE - International R&D Office
The International Research and Development (EHUrOPE) office was created in 2007 following the initiative of the Vice-Rectorate for Research to strengthen the participation of the research community in international programmes and especially in the Horizon Europe Programme. The office offers career support, coaching and supervision about dissemination, promotion and stimulation of participation in international research programs. The service also offers support along the preparation of proposals and funding to create consortia. These services are designed to support researchers, teachers, and academic leaders to boost and enhance their research career. To this end, the office organizes regularly training courses for members of UPV/EHU such as, initiation to the program Europe Horizon, or specific seminars focusing on writing ERC Grants or Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions. Additionally, there is an open call for Research Mobility and Dissemination Grants to promote the participation of research staff in international consortia, with the aim of preparing project proposals in international programmes (in particular, the EU's Horizon Europe Programme), including European networks, platforms and associations with an international profile.
Doctoral School
The Doctoral School of the UPV/EHU offers training courses for PhD students in two directions: some are transversal activities for all doctorate programs and some are specific to the research domain of the PhD student.
Library
The library of the UPV/EHU offers training for UPV/EHU staff related to databases and specialised electronic resources and regularly publishes information to support research.
Educational Counselling Service
The Educational Counselling Service of the UPV/EHU offers mainly training to improve teaching but also, soft skills training that could be beneficial for researches too. For instance, “Researchers in front of the microphone: how can I tell about my research?”, “Active stress management”...
This service, along with the gender-equality offers training for female academics to improve leadership skills (Program AKADEME).
Additional training offered by the different offices in the UPV/EHU can be found here
Contact
University of Bordeaux
Comenius University Bratislava
Professional Development Support for Researchers
The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers Department (HRS4R)
The HRS4R Department was created as an initiative of the office of the Vice-rector for Science and Doctoral Studies to support the continuing professional development of all researchers, from Postgraduate to Senior Research Fellows (R1-R4) and is located within the Comenius University Bratislava Science Park.
HRS4R staff are happy to discuss and share experiences with other research training and development providers within the alliance.
Contact:
Other units providing training at Comenius University Bratislava include:
- The Centre of Continuing Education - provide a broad portfolio of training programmes for improving knowledge, skills, and abilities of professional and personal development.
- Center for information technologies - Supports the professional development of academic staff in the areas related to information technologies. Along with the Support Centre for Students with Special Needs providing information, advisory and consulting services for university teachers, coordinators, applicants and students with specific needs.
- CU Academic library, Centre for transfer of technologies of CU, and individual units, and CU Faculties’ project centres.
- Academic mentoring program (AMP) - Delivers mentoring for both Early career researchers (mentees) and experienced academic staff (mentors). A separate part of AMP is focused on supporting researchers who have returned to work after parental leave.
- And since 2024, the Doctoral School, dedicated to the professional development needs of the doctoral researchers.
Contact
University of Galway
Professional Development Support for Researchers
Researcher Development Centre (RDC)
The Researcher Development Centre (RDC) was created as an initiative of the offices of the Vice-President for Research & Innovation (OVPRI) and Dean of Graduate Studies to support the continuing professional development of all researchers, from Postgraduate to Senior Research Fellows (R1-R4) and is located within the Offices of the Vice-President for Research & Innovation with its own training facilities for researchers.
The RDC is supported by two full-time staff, both of whom are experienced trainers and career coaches. The centre has a dedicated website to include information for both internal and prospective researchers. A Researcher Handbook with information on career supports, information on key policies and initiatives which complement support for researchers to build their own career pathways, are available on the website which also contains a section on ‘Career Stories’ of ex University of Galway researchers.
For University of Galway researchers
The courses and events page is accessible only to university of Galway researchers and each researcher has their own training log so they can track their personal training progress. Researchers can select from a range of training courses to meet their individual needs to include; live training events, online training options and self-paced learning options. Tips and information on careers, CVs, applying for jobs, networking, mentoring, etc. are also available. Coaching is available to researchers on a one-to-one basis.
For Trainers
Core to the RDC is the practice of personal development planning and template plans have been created by the staff at the RDC to suit the needs of both PhD researchers (R1) and more experienced researchers (R2-R4). The templates include a (1) skills analysis section, (2) time management, (3) goal setting and (4) creating the plan. We currently use the Researcher Development Framework created by Vitae1 which has accompanying training tools for use by researchers, but we are planning to review the new EU competency framework for researchers2 as part of our HRS4R action plan.
RDC staff are happy to discuss and share experiences with other research training and development providers within the alliance.
To share – available to all ENLIGHT alliance members
| ENLIGHT Universities | Contact | Training action TITLE | Main OBJECTIVES | FORMAT | LINK for further information |
| University of Galway | Reflections of Research Impact | Nine-part video series intended to give a quick, easy to digest introduction to research impact: explaining the concept, how to approach it and some of what is involved. | Online | https://stories.universityofgalway.ie/reflections-on-research-impact/index.html | |
| University of Galway | Research Impact Seminar Series | https://stories.universityofgalway.ie/research-impact-seminar-series/index.html |
Other units providing training at University of Galway include;
- Human Resources - Provides training and development to all staff
- Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching - Supports the professional development of academic staff in the areas related to teaching excellence
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - Delivers training in all EDI related matters for both staff and students
- Library, Innovation Office, IdeasLab, Engage, Public Patient Initiative, and individual units, schools and institutes within the University
- And since 2018, the Researcher Development Centre dedicated to the professional development needs of the research community.
Contact
...coming soon...
Ghent University
Career management and leadership development are an integral part of Ghent University’s postgraduate training offer for early career researchers. Ghent University also offers individual career coaching to PhD and Postdoctoral researchers.
Doctoral School
Ghent University’s Doctoral School supports PhD researchers by organising a wide range of transferable skills seminars. This training offer includes several leadership skills and career management courses. Some of those workshops are provided by an external trainer but we are also developing an in-house workshop to help young researchers pinpoint the elements of their professional identity. From PhD to SME 2024, an intense programme in collaboration with Flanders’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry, allows PhDs to train their leadership skills.
Postdoc Talent Management
The Postdoc Talent Management training offer is tailor-made for postdocs to support them in their professional and career development. The programme includes workshops on stress management, leadership and career design. This training offer is complemented by activities organised by the Ghent University Postdoc Community, an inclusive community by and for all postdoctoral researchers at Ghent University.
PhD Career Hub
The PhD Career Hub is designed to support PhD students and postdoc researchers in preparing their next career step. It discusses the essential steps in career development: self-assessment, exploration, learning and development, and the job search. Step-by-step guidance and practical exercises on similar topics, with a special focus on values, interests and competencies are part of a learning track (only available to UGent students and staff).
Trainings open to non-UGent ENLIGHT members
Master Class for MSCA-PF applicants with Ghent University as their Host Institution
Ghent University provides annual workshops to support MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowships applicants for an online free-of-charge MSCA Master Class.
Full outline of the schedules and content of this programme is available here
Unpublished Podcast – Mental well-being in the workplace
‘Unpublished’ is a podcast about mental well-being at work, created by
Each episode tackles a sensitive and taboo topic about mental well-being in the workplace. They include phenomena such as imposter feelings, cultural differences and loneliness. For each of these topics, our host, David Chan, talks with an expert in the field who gives fascinating insights based on their research and professional experience. Alongside our main guests, you’ll hear clips of individuals in academia sharing their own personal stories.
With this podcast, Trustpunt hopes to create a greater openness and to help create a safe, comfortable space in which to talk about mental well-being in a positive way.
Link for further information here
Research Integrity – In-depth dilemma training.
Delivered by UGent personnel this interactive training session is delivered over 2hours and facilitates a high level of participation, engagement, exchange and active debate.
This training is aimed at researchers, administrative and technical staff (ATP) involved in academic research, and students who have an affinity for research.
Objective: on the basis of supplied (in advance) or real-life cases, researchers are challenged to think about possible integrity issues related to daily research practice. Under supervision, you learn to recognise sensitive situations. In small groups, you explore and discuss in depth the various options for dealing with them and share experiences. You will receive applicable advice and experience an increase in your confidence to deal with such issues in your own practice.
Content: recognisable cases from research practice, related to e.g. authorship, dealing with data, conflicts of interest, interference in research, professional relationships, ... are used to discuss challenging integrity issues.
If you would like your own case discussed in the training, anonymously, you can submit it upon registration (i.e. no later than 5 days before the training day).
There will be room to exchange experiences, we will discuss various response options and test them against the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, also known as the ALLEA code, the guideline for research integrity within Ghent University.
For information on this programme contact
Contact
University of Göttingen
University of Groningen
Support for Early Career Researchers is offered in forms of
- Courses/ workshops/ training
- Peer support
- Career counseling & Coaching (individual coaching and group events)
Support is being offered by
- HR Experts - HR
- Talent development - Research & Impact
- Graduate Schools -9 Faculties
- Career Perspective Series - Graduate School
- Balance - Health
- Career Service - Student Service
Services of Talent Development
Support for PhDs
Research
Research
| PhD Candidates | Postdoc | Starting | |
|
Doing Research |
CPS; Scrumming and other projecct mgt techniques | Meet & Greet w/ Societal partners | |
|
Getting Funded |
CPS; Rubicon grant writing training | How to Write a Convincing VENI proposal; Presenting a VENI Grant Application |
How to Write a Convincing VIDI proposal; Presenting a VIDI Grant Application; Editing Grant Applications; Mock interviews |
|
Getting Published |
CPS Academic Writing Skills; Publishing in English; Getting published |
Career Progress/ Self-development/ Peer support
Career progress
| PhD Candidates | Postdoc | Starting | |
| BEING VISIBLE | CPS Media training; Storytelling Academic CV Building | Media training | Media training |
| LEADING & ORGANIZING | CPS Start to supervise; A Woman's Path to Leadership | MicroLabs; Assessing Theses; Supervising Thesis Students | Tough Conversations; How to select PhD students; Coaching PhD Candidates (Int Contaxt); What to do with a stressed PhD Candidate?; Working with PhD students & the autistic spectrum; Importance of the fist year, go/ no go |
| BUILDING PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS | CPS Networking for people who hate it | Networking | |
| CAREER PROGRESS | CPS; My Future Career; The landscape of Post-PhD Creer Tracks, Job application training | Mentoring programme; Applying for a tenure track position; Career Course for Postdocs, Job interview training; Job application training | Mentoring programme; Job interview training; Coaching |
Self- development
- Wellbeing: e.g. Running FUNdamentals, Mindfulness, Sports
- Relating: e.g., Active Bystander Training; Inclusive Recruitment Training
- Communication: e.g. Intercultural communication; Communication training; Voice Training
- Self-efficac: e.g. Ergonomics; Strengthen you resilience; Personal Effectiveness
Peer Support
| PhD Candidates | Postdoc | Starting |
| PhD Council; GOPHER, Academic Advocates (FSE) | Faculty Postdoc Council; e.g. FSE, Academic ADvocates (FSE) | YAG, faculty young researchers networks, e.g. YARN, Academic Advocates (FSE) |
Contact
ENLIGHT alliance members can contact
University of Tartu
Like all universities there are many internal providers of training and development where both staff and students can engage in a wide range of required training, training specific to the units people work in, and knowledge sharing.
HR Centre for Professional Development
University of Tartu’s Human Resources department organises circa 300 in-service training sessions annually. In 2021, more than 4,000 people participated in in-service, free training for UT staff. Most of the training is offered in Estonian, but international staff can avail of various training opportunities throughout the year. The training topics are very different. Most popular are language courses, and courses on assertiveness, mental health, managing conflicts, info technology, coping with changes, strategical planning, etc. Each year, training for covision group leaders is organised, providing a possibility to support each other for employees who have similar positions or roles at work.
A leadership development programme is offered by HR for new or inexperienced managers, experienced managers who would like to develop some skills, or someone who is not working as a manager but would like to develop themselves. The year-long programme consists of lectures, seminars, personality test feedback, and a selection of additional training and knowledge sharing opportunities. The programme started in 2018; by 2024, 81 UT employees have completed it. It has become a popular programme, group size per year is limited to 20 people.
HR offers a regular “Leadership and management skills course for academic group leaders”. This is an intensive 4-day training programme designed for researchers with a leadership role, standing in the first half of their career path.
University’s language learning hub helps international staff and students find a suitable option to learn Estonian. The homepage includes a self-assessment tool for language proficiency and various opportunities (courses, camps, language café, tandem learning, etc.) to communicate in the Estonian language environment and learn about Estonian culture. The university’s Centre for Professional Development also offers staff family members the opportunity to take part in Estonian language courses.
Most training information is available in the university in-service training calendar.
Doctoral training
Doctoral training is offered by the Centres for Doctoral Studies, Office of Academic Affairs, individual institutes and HR. Since 2022, new doctoral candidates are mostly university employees, however almost half of the candidates have only student status (mostly admitted before the change in the state financing of the student places). Therefore, different units have coordinated the training offer to ensure similar opportunities for all candidates, irrespective of their employment status. Transferable skills calendar offers a range of courses and training specifically for doctoral candidates.
In 2022, University of Tartu reformed its doctoral programmes to reduce the volume of studies (from 60 to 30 ECTS) and, among other changes, bring transferable skills (including different leadership skills) forward in its learning outcomes. Training offered by different units, including HR, is organised while coordinating the distribution of respective scope of skills. The study module requirements can be fulfilled by mandatory or elective courses, HR training, and more.
The university offers guidance for doctoral candidate’s self-analysis to become aware of personal development needs and opportunities within the context of a doctoral programme. It is a non-mandatory tool to assist in preparing the individual plan and progress review report, making the connections between the learning outcomes, transferable skills and activities to acquire those skills. The guidelines refer to two European skills frameworks, ResearchComp and EURODOC framework for early career researchers. As part of their mandatory introductory course, the first-year doctoral candidates are offered a seminar by university career counsellors on career planning, and learning to use the available self-assessment tools.
At the beginning of 2024, the Estonian Doctoral School for all Estonian universities was established. The school offers training to all Estonian doctoral candidates (and their supervisors). In addition to broader training opportunities (often adding an interdisciplinary and international scope to the events), doctoral school allows doctoral students to broaden their research horizons and expand their professional network and collaboration opportunities.
Library
University of Tartu Library offers training and guidance on university collections and databases, principles of information search, managing references, Open Science and data management.
Centre for Learning and Teaching
Centre for Learning and Teaching supports the professional development of academic staff in the areas related to teaching excellence. The Centre offers training for staff, teaching consultancy for teachers by academic developers, instructional designers and e-learning support persons, teachers learning communities, and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Contact
Uppsala University
Uppsala University's Unit for Career and Leadership Development in Academia (KARLA) was established in 2018 by a decision of the then university director (UFV2017/83). This unit, which includes four employees, one of whom is the unit manager, provides essential services such as career support, coaching, supervision, leadership programs, courses, seminars, and consultative support. These services are designed to aid doctoral researchers, teachers, and academic leaders in fostering productive environments and achieving sustainable careers. KARLA has mapped out these support services using the Euraxess Reflex model and detailed them on the Uppsala University intranet, where their current offerings are also available. Notably, KARLA is unique in providing this specialized career support, which is highly demanded by the university's core activities.
The Importance of Career Paths and Leadership Development
The significance of improved career paths, support, and leadership development has been consistently emphasized. Uppsala University, in 2018, applied for and was awarded the EU Commission's HR Excellence in Research recognition. This distinction mandates adherence to the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code), which provide guidelines for recruiting and employing researchers at all career stages. To facilitate the implementation of these guidelines, the European Commission's Euraxess organization developed the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). A critical outcome of the gap analysis conducted during the application process was the identified need for enhanced career coaching, particularly for doctoral researchers. This has led to a recognized necessity for strengthened support for early-stage research careers, including those of PhD students.
KARLA
KARLA serves as Uppsala University's dedicated career center for researchers, teachers, and leaders in academia. Its mission encompasses providing individual career support and facilitating leadership development. While management training and support for managers with employer responsibilities fall under the HR department's purview, KARLA focuses on leadership within research projects or groups. Currently, the unit offers the ENLIGHT Leadership Programme and supports various financial training initiatives, including the Finance Boardgame, developed with the Financial Administration and Procurement Division.
KARLA's services cater to individuals at various stages of their academic careers, from doctoral students (R1) and postdocs (R2) to more experienced researchers and professors (R3 and R4). Initially limited to online career support and short courses, the unit now offers comprehensive career support and coaching. Participants span the university's three scientific domains: Humanities and Social Sciences (HumSam), Medicine and Pharmacy (MedFarm), and Technology and Natural Sciences (TekNat). As of 2024, approximately 1,500 doctoral students are enrolled at Uppsala University, in addition to those not employed by the university.
For University of Uppsala Researchers
Uppsala - Research career & leadership supports
For trainers: a list of delivered training during 2023/24 to researchers (could put in a link to this information – below)
Contact
Workshop for PhD students and postdocs: Academic careers – the fun and the obligations
Are you interested to learn about what academic employers and panel members who judge grant proposals look for and how you can make the best of your itinerary, so you will enjoy your future endeavors in academia? Then join the webinar on June 14, 2pm – 3.30 pm CET.