Strengthening human capital

The Early-career researchers Forum will become the point of contact for PhD activities within Circle U.

Heads of doctoral Schools and doctoral Colleges, Career Center leaders and Heads of research centers will meet to discuss issues related to doctoral training, mobility and careers. They will be able to share good practices and common views on doctoral education through workshops (1 workshop per year), e.g. on the approaches to support the early-career researchers for jobs not just inside but also outside universities. 

Université Paris Cité will coordinate this activity.

We have already planned a summer school for PhD students in the Knowledge Hub on Global Health under the Erasmus + project. The current call will enable us to fund two additional Summer Schools within the Knowledge Hubs on Climate and Democracy. These Summer Schools will allow our PhD students to create cross-university and crosssectoral relationships and skills, and explore interdisciplinary themes related to their research projects.

Aarhus University will design and implement the ERIA Thematic summer schools for PhD students, drawing on its well-established Summer University for international bachelor and master students. 

As part of the career development of Circle U. younger scholars, we want to focus on transversal issues such as the role of science in society, research integrity and ethics, inter- and transdisciplinarity, gender, the normative foundations of science (including the uncertainties associated with research), as well as the role of science within research-intensive universities, the dissemination and transfer of research results.

We will seek to promote a more agile circulation of doctors between universities and non-academic institutions or businesses:

• The ECR international mobility scheme will offer fellowships for early-career researchers who will support the appointed Chairs in their activities dedicated to the alliance.
• The ECR secondment outside the Academia scheme will offer secondments to early-career researchers to allow them to intern outside of academia, possibly taking advantage of the opportunities offered by Circle U. networks of associated partners and science parks.

King's College London will coordinate this activity which is strongly linked to the Academic Chairs Programme which it leads in Circle U. Erasmus+. 

As a first step, a post-doc researcher will conduct a study on gender issues in R&I within our universities. On the basis of the study, the drafting of Guidelines for the Circle U. Gender Equality Plan will be undertaken by a Women in Science group of seven researchers among Circle U. Chairs, women and men interested in the topic, which will be set up to focus on this specific task.

The University of Belgrade will lead this activity. Aarhus University will also host the post-doc in charge of studying gender issues within Circle U., as its Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy (CFA) has already participated in a number of EU projects on the promotion of gender equality in science.