eurodoc

1. www.eurodoc.net The European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers Young Researchers’ mobility in Europe Problems, approaches and developing policies Francis Vella, PhD Eurodoc president MRC postdoctoral researcher

2. I. Young researchers: an emerging concept

3. Young researchers ? A new term for a new concept • Emerged since the 1990s. • Mostly the result of increased numbers of PhD students and post-docs experiencing problems (abuse, lack of recognition) despite growing importance. • Contribution: ca. 50% of workforce & 50% of publications • Diversity of denominations express work in progress to redefine what used to be PhD students and post-docs. Many names in use. YOUNG RESEARCHERS = ALL RESEARCHERS IN EARLY STEPS OF THEIR CAREER (often in precarious working conditions) • PhD candidates or Early Stage Researchers or PhD students • Junior Researchers or PhD Holders or Postdoctoral Researchers • !!! No relationship with age: young = early steps of a researcher’s career. Official recognition by the European commission: • Early Stage researcher = PhD student < 4 years in training • Experienced researcher = PhD holder + PhD student > 4 years in training

4. PhD students as professionals PhD candidates, Doctoral Researchers, Early Stage Researchers ? Do PhD students differ from other students ? • 1st/2nd cycle (B/M) 3rd cycle (D) • Knowledge: receive produce • Research:occasional if any main activity • Prof. insertion: possible mandatory • Assessment: mainly on only on • taught elements research activity PhDs must be recognised as a specific, different type of student, who is a young professional being trained. • The key element in assessment of the degree is the research carried out.

5. II. The current European context

6. Two major European reforms • The European dimension is becoming increasingly important at the national level and Young Researchers are a specific and key target of policies. • THE BOLOGNA PROCESS • Aims at creating the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) • Started in 1998, only lately focusing on the “3rd level” • Grassroots process: started and driven by the universities through the European University Association (EUA) • Designed the European Bachelor/Master/Doctorate scheme (3+2+3) • 2003: Berlin communique • 2005: Bergen communique • Mobility through converging higher education systems • Competitiveness & Attractiveness of higher education stakeholders • Salzburg declaration (Eurodoc input) • Tries to catch up with Lisbon process

7. Two major European reforms • THE LISBON PROCESS • Aims at creating the European Research Area (ERA). • Started in 2001, focused early on young researchers (ESRs and JR) as human resources • Strategy proposed by the European commission for knowledge economy • Only the EU stands the comparison with the US or Japan. • China and India new key competitors for the EU. • Very high targets: 700.000 new researchers and 3% GDP in 2010 • Proposed creation of the European Research Council (ERC) • Key issue in current talks on FP7 • Mobility through the creation of a labour market for scientists. • Competitiveness & Attractiveness of research stakeholders. • European Charter and Code of Conduct for Researchers. • European Visa directive for 3rd country nationals. • Needs to include the Bologna vision.

8. III. What kind of mobility ?

9. What kind of mobility ? • Mobility is desirable since moving back and forth between countries, job sectors or scientific fields can be very profitable for • the researcher • the employer/institution • the research or HE system/country. • Geographic mobility • Within the EU/Europe • From outside the EU/Europe (non-European nationals) • Outside the EU/Europe and Back (EU/European nationals) • Intersectorial mobility • The career of a young researcher can include work in different sectors: • Private companies • Higher public administration • Other sectors (such as charities) • Thematic mobility • Particularly important in science. Allows to improve knowledge and technical skills and develop original approaches

10. What kind of mobility ? • Survival mobility (funding driven) • Also called “inflicted” mobility. • Linked to the current design of funding schemes: short-term contracts or fellowships. • Heavy cost for Human Resources (2002 UK S&T select committee report), especially women (gender bias). • Poor efficacy of investment. • Chosen mobility (career and family driven) • Needs reappraisal of current funding mechanisms. • Needs reappraisal of current career structures. • Needs removal of obvious mob-stacles (Visas, Languages, Administration, Degree recognition). • Vision supported by the European Commission (DG Research)

11. IV. The role of Eurodoc

12. What is eurodoc? Key dates 2001 first meeting in Sweden 2002 created on informal basis 2005 legally established Representativeness 21 member countries 6 observer countries More countries applying Partners & Stakeholders European commission European University Association Careers in Europe ESIB, WAYS, and many others Data & Policies Annual questionnaire 5 active workgroups 500,000 young researchers in Europe

13. The role of Eurodoc • To assist, inform, defend and represent in policy making concerning young researchers • To represent young researchers at the European level in matters of education, research and professional development • To advance the quality of doctoral programmes and research activity in Europe • To promote the circulation of information • To promote collaborations between national organisations of young researchers

14. Supervision & Training WG • S&T CHARTER FOR PhD CANDIDATES • Defines rights and duties of PhD candidates • Protects from abuse of supervisor • Ensures supervisors are properly trained so that PhDs can be well trained • Operational objectives • Adopted in 2004 • Dissemination • AVAILABLE ONLINE www.eurodoc.net/articles.php?lng=en&pg=290

15. Career Paths WG • Career ladder in academia • To bring postdoctoral loops to an end • To define clear career paths • To recognise every aspect of a researcher’s work (incl. teaching, administrative management, supervision…) • To allow mobility within academia (not everyone is meant to be group head for a lifetime) • Operational objectives • Final modifications • Set to vote in december 2005 • Other themes • Training of experienced researchers

16. Labour Conditions WG • Definition of a specific status for PhD candidates (in progress) • Aims at providing a common contractual framework to ensure proper working conditions • Must include university registration and appropriate rights and duties • Builds up on the S&T Charter • Must recognise professional status and appropriate rights and duties • Addresses funding issues Operational objectives • Document being debated • Could be set for vote mid-2006

17. Mobility WG • Main facts and themes • Organisation of ESRM 2004 in Lisbon conference with the Marie Curie Fellowship Association • Coordinator contributes to external advisory group for HR and mobility of the EC • Survey on good practices of mobility for ESRs • Mostly, discussions of geographic mobility related issues (visas, transferable social rights)

18. European survey WG • A European survey • Newest workgroup • Colossal but exciting task • Careful selection of questions and scope • Take stock of previous surveys • Collaboration with professionals • Interaction with all workgroups • Operational objectives • 6 months of work online • Hannover meeting • Monitor timetable • Establish partnerships • Next step: Workshop in Bologna

19. How to join Eurodoc ? • Via EAYS • For eligible young researchers • Via other national member or observer organisations • Other countries • See the list of organisations on the website • possibility to create new national organisations and join • Via the workgroups • Contact the coordinators • See website for details

20. V. European policies that target mobility of young researchers

21. The Salzburg declaration • THE BACKGROUND • 2005 conference in Salzburg (Austria) by EUA + Eurodoc heavily involved (associated organiser). • First steps to define a common approach to PhD training in Europe: lays down the basis for mobility and calls for mobility at the PhD level. • THE DECLARATION • i. Doctoral training = core component is advancement of knowledge through original research • ii. research training designed to include professional career development. • iv. Doctoral candidates as early stage researchers = professionals with commensurate rights. • v. Supervision and assessment based on a transparent contractual framework of shared responsibilities. • vii. Duration = 3-4 years full-time as a rule. • ix. Increasing mobility (geographical, interdisciplinary and intersectoral) • x. Ensuring appropriate funding (quality of doctoral programmes).

22. The European Charter and Code Com2005-576 • THE BACKGROUND • Wide and successful consultation (incl. Eurodoc) • Released in March 2005 • Not a directive, not binding, however possible link with European funding • Charter for role of all research stakeholders • THE RECOMMANDATION • Charter for researchers: general principles on the roles, rights and duties of researchers, employers and/or funders. • Charter ensures professionalism in all aspects of research practices • Charter recognises all forms of mobility as a means for professional development. • Code for Recruitment: general principles to be followed by employers and funders. • Code ensures transparency, equal treatment. • Recommandation considers PhD candidates as professionals and defines them as ESRs. Post-docs are Experienced Researchers.

23. The Fixed-Term directive Com1999-70 • THE BACKGROUND • Directive from 1999. • Concludes collective bargaining agreement between European social partners (Unions, Employers). • Targets “inflicted mobility”. • THE DIRECTIVE • Non discrimination: Fixed-term workers should be treated not less favourably than permanent workers. • Objective reasons to renew short-term contract. • Limit to the number if successive contracts. • Limit to the total duration on short-term contracts. • Fixed-term workers included to calculate threshold of representative bodies.

24. The Pension directive Memo2005-384 • THE BACKGROUND • Aimed at mobility between jobs and across borders. • Covers supplementary/occupational pensions, not statutory pensions (another directive covers them ). • Due to growing importance of supplementary pensions (variable between countries). • Discussed for 15 years, adopted October 2005THE DIRECTIVE • Time limits to shorten length and to allow early entry into a scheme • When changing jobs, workers to choose whether they maintain their rights in the former scheme

25. The Visa Directive Com2004-178 • THE BACKGROUND • Targets international mobility (incoming for EU): to date, valid in wider Europe. • Targets researchers with working contract: not all PhD students concerned (see the Students directive - com2002-548). • Directive adopted in October 2005. • THE DIRECTIVE • Special admission mechanism gives research organisations a role to issue a residence permit (fast track procedure). • Research organisations = public or private. Have to be authorised/approved. • Status of researcher broadly defined, regardless of funding type, provided there is a contractual relationship with employer: Residence permit not linked to researcher’s status. • Mobility into other EU countries possible during visa period.

26. The ERA-MORE network and the Marie Curie fellowships • ERA-MORE NETWORK • Network of existing structures. • Complements the Internet Researchers' Mobility Portal opened in 2003. • Aims at providing a contact point and information on services to mobile researchers. • Early days: great potential, but added value yet to be assessed. Knowledge base to be built, awareness of contact points often still low. • Not all European countries covered, but larger than EU. List of countries available online through the EC mobility portal. • 2nd Conference in Slovenia (23-25 November 2005) with Eurodoc representatives. • MARIE CURIE FELLOWSHIPS • Tool under the control of the EC • Directly aimed at promoting mobility of young researchers • Many different schemes, including “outbound and return” fellowships • Association ensures dynamic interactions between recipients • Important player in advising on mobility – Eurodoc partner

27. eurodoc Annual Conference Bologna, 9-12 march 2006 www.eurodoc.net Contact: board@eurodoc.net