The fouth Academic Career Planning and Leadership course (ACLA) concluded with a trip to Brussels. A group of post-doc course participants, HSSH staff and university research support experts spent intensive three days learning about EU research policy and funding opportunities.
The ACLA course is targeted to post-doctoral researchers who are launching their independent researcher career after earning their PhD and building their own research group. ACLA workshops help researchers to develop their leaderships skills and strategic planning of research themes. Furthermore, the course provides help for planning a research group and taking full use of the research services and infrastructure of the University of Helsinki. The fourth edition of the course convened during the academic year 2023-2024, coordinated by HSSH Director Risto Kunelius, Vice-Director Pekka Mäkelä and professor Kirsi Pyhältö from the Faculty of Educational Sciences.
The three-day visit to Brussels was full of informative and interesting activities. On the first day the group took part in #StrongerTogether: SSAH and the future of evidence-informed policymaking conference arranged in the frame of the Belgian’s Presidency of the European Council. The conference was attended by researchers as well as policy makers and it encouraged deeper dialogue between the parties.
The Brussels trip program was facilitated by the Helsinki EU Office and the remaining two days were spent at their premises as well as visiting the Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU office and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. These visits provided a comprehensive look at EU research policy and funding opportunities.
As a conclusion to the course, a feedback discussion rounding up everything from the past academic year was held on the final day of the trip. Overall the participants found the course informative and helpful. A sense of community and many visitors talking about their own experience and expertise during the course workshops were found most valuable.
Some suggestions for additions on future course installments were visitors closer to the post doctoral participants’ career stage and the topic of research security, which was also a topic of discussion during the Brussels trip.
The fifth Academic Career Planning and Leadership course is arranged in the academic year 2024–2025. The call for applications is open until 31.5.2024 – read more and apply here.