Academic Competitiveness: The Future of European Higher Education, Research and Development Perspectives of Early Career Researchers

As the current European discussions demonstrate, the prominent role of academia and the RDI sector in shaping the economy and society is undeniable. Involving the next generation in building the future is also inevitable. What is the current position of the new generation of researchers in these discussions? How can early-career researchers shape their own role and with it the higher education, academic life and the RDI sector - the economy and society of the future?

The Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates (DOSZ), as an organisation representing doctoral students and young researchers in Hungary, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. On this occasion – linked to the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union – we are organising an international conference in partnership with Ludovika University of Public Service and Edutus University, on 18 November 2024, entitled

Academic Competitiveness:
The Future of European Higher Education, Research and Development.
Perspectives of Early Career Researchers.

Date: 18th November 2024, Budapest

Venue: University of Public Service, Main Building, Zrínyi Conference Hall

Our conference will focus on the role and vision of early-career researchers in higher education and research, initiating a dialogue between higher education and RDI actors, sectoral governance, institutions and the organisations representing early-career researchers to explore how we can envision the future of higher education in Hungary and Europe, what tools and interventions are needed, and what good practices can be seen at the European, national and institutional levels.

Participation in the conference is free but registration is required.

The registration form is available HERE.

Due to limited space at the conference, we will be able to admit participants in the order of their registration.

Please note that the event is open to the press.

Programme:

08.30-09.00         Registration

09.00-09.30         Welcoming remarks

09.00-09.10         Gergely Deli, Rector, Ludovika University of Public Service - 10’

09.10-09.20         Dániel Molnár, President, Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates - 10’

09.20-09.30         Pil Maria Saugmann, President, European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers - 10’

09.30-10.30         Keynote presentations

09.30-09.45         Higher Education Institutions as Catalysts for Innovation - 15’

                            Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary for Innovation and Higher Education, Ministry of Culture and Innovation

09.45-10.00         New Steps in Research and Innovation - 15’

                            Martin Kern, Director, European Institute of Innovation and Technology

10.00-10.15         Unlocking EU Funding: Promoting Collaboration between Academia and Industry in Europe - 15’

                            Bernadett Petri, Head of Institute, Europe Strategy Research Institute, UPS

10.15-10.30         Navigating European Funding: Opportunities and Challenges for Hungarian Universities - 15’

                            Richárd Bodrogi, Director, Tempus Public Foundation

10.30-11.00         Coffee break - 30’

11.00-12.00         Mobility or BrainDrain? – Attract Young Researchers from Abroad: Practices and Consequences - 60’

                            Moderator: Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh, DOSZ Ambassador of India

                            Panelists:

                          • Richárd Bodrogi, Director, Tempus Public Foundation • Ala Santos, President, Polonium Foundation

                          • Szidónia Rusu, President, Association of Hungarian PhD Students and Young Researchers in Romania

                          • Luka Savić, President, Udruge Penkala • Haekal Al Asyari, Chairman, Indonesian Student Association in Hungary

12.00-13.00         Lunch break - 60’

13.00-14.00         Collaboration and Competitiveness in Science & Technology Diplomacy - 60’

                            Moderator: Linnéa Regnell, Project Executive, Education Department Asia-Europe Foundation

                            Panelists:

                           • Vongmonasekar Vuthy, Director of Policy, Economic Diplomacy and Strategic Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Cambodia

                           • Kotchaphan Bowonchaiyarit, Office of National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council

                           • Chi Ha Tran, Technology Policy Researcher, Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development

                           • Vihang Vivek Jumle, Doctoral Candidate, Institute of Communication and Media Studies, University of Bern

                           • Sheena Joy Palcis, Doctoral Student, Central Philippine University

                           • Elaine Yeap, Senior Project Officer, Infineon Technologies AG and Graduate Student, Technical University of Munich

14.00-15.10         Are Academic Skills Transferable Skills? – Career Paths for ECRs Inside and Outside of the Academia - 60’

                            Moderator: Rizvika Rahmita Salim, DOSZ Ambassador of Indonesia

                            Opening presentation: Zalán Klauda: Career Challenge Program

                            Panelists:

                           • László Lengyel, National Research, Development and Innovation Office

                           • Gergely Zaránd, Vice-Rector, Budapest University of Technology and Economics

                           • Aleksandra Lewandowska, Board Member, Krajowa Reprezentacja Doktorantów

                           • Craig V. Johnson, Technology Transfer Manager Óbuda University

                           • Zalán Klauda, Presidential Commissioner, Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates, Career Challenge Program

15.10-15.30        Coffee break

15.30-16.30        Focused discussions - 60’

                           • Doctoral Education and Quality Assurance, moderator:

                             Hannah Schoch, Secretary, European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers

                           • Mental Wellbeing in Academia, moderator:

                             Scott Bremer, Chair, Young Academy of Europe

                           • Researchers in Diaspora, moderator:

                             Beáta Lázár, Board Member, Association of Hungarian PhD Students and Young Researchers in Romania

                           • Scholarship and Research Grant, moderator:

                             Dario Lečić, Treasurer, Udruge Penkala

16.30-16.50         Coffee break - 20’

16.50-18.00        The Future of Academia: Early-Career Researchers as the Drivers of Change in the European Higher Education - 60’

                            Moderator: Norbert Bencze, Presidential Commissioner, Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates

                            Panelists:

                             • Pil Maria Saugmann, President, European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers

                             • Katalin Solymosi, Outgoing Chair, Young Academy of Europe

                             • Maria Badal, Co-Representative for Science and Business, RAICEX

                             • Paulina Góra, Board Member, Krajowa Reprezentacja Doktorantów

                             • Tereza Šímová, Policy Officer, Marie Curie Alumni Association

18.00-18.20        Closing remarks  - 20’

                            Balázs Gulyás, President, Hungarian Research Network

The conference is organised by the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates, Edutus University and Ludovika University of Public Service, as an officially listed programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The programme was is supported by the Ministry of European Union Affairs, the Hungarian Development Promotion Office and Hunexpert.

Our conference is a partner event of the conference "Economic Competitiveness: The Future of Science, Technology and Innovation Diplomacy" organised on 19 November 2024. We encourage our participants to also attend the partner conference, which can contribute to further discussions of the current topics. You can read more about the conference on its website.