Students are often interested in research; however, they often face challenges in finding opportunities to apply their research skills beyond their coursework or thesis projects, making it difficult to envision a future in academia.
This challenge resonated deeply with Kiira Sarasjärvi, a doctoral researcher from the University of Helsinki and the creator of the Research Simulator. Drawing from her own experiences, Kiira wanted to design a program that would lower the barriers for students, giving them a glimpse into how they could forge their own paths in the academic world.
“As a PhD researcher who has spent several years abroad, I wanted to create something that could have a broader impact on supporting undergraduate and postgraduate students to advance their future careers in academia. ", Kiira explains.
One of Kiira’s key goals of the programme was to demystify and be more transparent about the many ways people end up in a PhD programme and that there’s no right or wrong way or type of person that can do this.
A central part of the programme was to mentor students in their research groups to write a research proposal. To support this, the programme provided students with the opportunity to gain new insights on familiar topics and develop essential skills.
Through online workshops and lectures, they explored various aspects of academic careers, such as writing a researcher bio, finding their voice in academic writing, and utilizing intervention maps and peer reviews. For many, the key take away about the programme was the collaboration between universities in international and multidisciplinary teams, as one student expresses:
“One of the most valuable things I gained from the Incubator was learning how to collaborate effectively across universities and disciplines. Working with teammates from different backgrounds helped me think more broadly, and I also developed more confidence in presenting ideas and asking for feedback. It felt like a safe space to grow both as a researcher and a communicator.”
At the end of the program, the six teams showcased their presentations in an online event, receiving feedback and questions from a jury. The winning team, Diverse Divestors, stood out with their research proposal titled "Sustainable Universities, Responsible Investments: A Blueprint for Aligning Campus Climate Commitments with Ethical Financial Practices," earning a free waiver to attend the summer program of the incubator in Krakow in July 2025.
Research Simulator edition part of the Una Europa Student Project Incubator concept
Una Europa Student Project Incubator is a fully online, interdisciplinary, and international programme emphasizing entrepreneurial thinking and action, but in a setting recognising the research intensive and academic nature of our institutions.
Instead of developing startups or solving business cases, the Una Europa incubator focuses on students applying their skills to develop activities, events, research proposals, and community-based initiatives addressing pressing societal challenges. This activity has been conceptualized to create opportunities for students to put their academic knowledge into practice and seeing the real-world application of a research-intensive education.
These programmes expand the extracurricular activities of our universities, allowing students at all levels of study to explore international collaboration and learning in a virtual and low-threshold format.