PATHWAYS – Empowering Staff and International Researchers Through Networking and Training

Zdjęcie ludzi rozmawiających i uśmiechających się

Project title: PATHWAYS – Empowering Staff and International Researchers through Networking and Training

Project Duration: 1 September 2024 – 31 August 2026

Project Value: PLN 499 573.58. The project is implemented under the Welcome to Poland programme funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

Overall Project Objective: To support the career development of international researchers and doctoral candidates at the University of Lodz and facilitate their integration into the academic community through mentoring, training, and networking activities.

Specific Objectives:

Supporting international researchers and doctoral candidates in career planning and securing research funding.
Building an international network of academic contacts and exchange of good practices.
Facilitating the integration of international researchers and doctoral candidates into the University of Lodz community.
Enhancing administrative staff competencies in supporting international researchers.

Target Group: The entire academic community, with a particular focus on:

international researchers and doctoral candidates employed at the University of Lodz.
Polish researchers collaborating with international scholars.
administrative staff members involved in supporting international researchers and internationalisation processes.

Planned Activities

Objective: Supporting researchers and doctoral candidates in planning their academic careers.

Activities:

Workshops with career advisers and mentors.
Academic CV preparation and interview skills training.
Training on grant applications and project management.
Development of transferable skills, including time management, communication and networking.

Target Group: International researchers and doctoral candidates at the UL.

Objective: Exchange of experiences and building cooperation networks among universities.

Activities:

Organisation of a two-day forum for professionals supporting researchers.
Thematic sessions on employment, residence legalisation and integration.
Workshops on inclusivity and diversity management.
Building networks between universities in Poland and across Europe.

Target Group: University staff members responsible for supporting international researchers.

Objective: Building the research community and promoting the work of international researchers.

Activities:

“Get Inspired” meetings showcasing research conducted at the UL.
Networking and community-building events.
Seasonal gatherings for international researchers.
Educational visits and study trips in Lodz and across Poland.

Target Group: International researchers, doctoral candidates and the wider UL community.

Objective: Improving the quality of administrative support provided to international researchers.

Activities:

Creation of a new, functional space dedicated to researcher support.
Development and distribution of information materials.
Expansion of administrative support services for international staff.

Target Group: International researchers and UL staff involved in international support services.

Objective: Improving support and integration processes for international researchers.

Activities:

Satisfaction surveys among international researchers.
Preparation of recommendations for the UL administration.
Development of an enhanced support system for newly recruited staff.

Target Group: UL administrative staff and international researchers.

Objective: Strengthening skills in project management and support for international researchers.

Activities:

Training in project management and transferable skills.
Participation in international conferences (EAIE, APAIE, NAFSA).
Exchange of good practices with other higher education institutions.

Target Group: International Hub staff and other administrative units of the UL.

Meet Dr Emma Palacios Theil and dr hab. Philippe Jacques R. Kok from the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, dr hab. Michael Green from the Faculty of Philosophy and History, and Dr Béla Fiser from the Faculty of Chemistry. They share their first experiences at the University of Lodz and explain what makes our University a special place for them.

The video was produced as part of the CONNECT – University of Lodz Connected to International Science project, funded by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

Strengthened support for international researchers and doctoral candidates.
Improved access to information on career development opportunities and research funding.
Increased awareness of academic career planning and grant application processes.
Greater participation of international researchers and doctoral candidates in the academic life of the University of Lodz.
Enhanced competencies of researchers and doctoral candidates.
Training for at least 80 researchers and doctoral candidates in academic career management.
Organisation of a series of training sessions and workshops covering mentoring, project management, transferable skills development, and grant applications.
Improved opportunities for international researchers to establish international research collaborations.
Enhanced support services for international researchers at the UL.
Establishment of an evaluation system for international researchers’ experiences, enabling the identification of challenges and implementation of improvements.
Improved quality of administrative services for international staff through better organisation and standardisation of processes.
Development of the Welcome Point and support infrastructure.
Enhancement and expansion of the Welcome Point for International Researchers, including the creation of a new, dedicated support space for researchers.
Preparation and distribution of information materials to facilitate the adaptation of international researchers.
Improved coordination between UL administrative units involved in supporting researchers.
Strengthened integration of the academic community.
Organisation of a series of Science Inspires events promoting the research achievements of international scholars and fostering their integration with the Polish academic community.
Increased engagement of international staff in university life through networking opportunities, meetings, and community-building events.
Exchange of good practices and enhanced cooperation between higher education institutions.
Organisation of a two-day forum for specialists supporting international researchers at Polish universities.
Creation of a cooperation and knowledge-sharing network focused on the internationalisation of higher education institutions.
Participation of International Hub staff in leading international conferences (EAIE, APAIE and NAFSA).
Delivery of project management and transferable skills training for the International Hub team.
Increased visibility and attractiveness of the UL as a welcoming institution for international researchers.
Enhanced promotion of the UL at international academic events and conferences.
Improved recruitment of international researchers and doctoral candidates through more effective support and integration processes.