Workshop: Academic Practices for Early Career Researchers

The workshop “Academic Practices for Early Career Researchers” aimed at PhD candidates, Post-Doctoral Research Fellows and early career researchers (ECR) whose graduation dates back no longer than eight years. This workshop offered the opportunity to exchange points of view and challenges about the requirements ECRs need to fulfil as emerging academics. At the core of this one-day workshop at the University of Aarhus, Denmark were the following themes:

1. Teaching

• How to prepare a new module?
• How to prepare your first lecture/seminar?

2. Supervision (BA, Honours & MA level)

• Time management
• Providing academic guidance and pastoral support
• Motivational aspects of supervision

3. Creating an individual research profile

• Advice on generating publications
• Cooperation with junior & senior colleagues
• Time management

4. Preparing for the job market

• What is a job talk?
• How do I prepare for it?
• How do I prepare for an interview?

5. The heat is on for ECRs – Coping with pressure

One of the results of this workshop was the drafting of a so-called “ERC Fact sheet” summarising the main conclusions of our discussion on the afore-mentioned five topics. This workshop report will be published on the COST ENTER website.

The workshop was coordinated and taught by Dr Anna-Sophie Maass, Lecturer in International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Lancaster, UKand Professor Dr Natalia Chaban, Jean Monnet Chair, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.