The international mobility of doctoral candidates and postdocs is the topic of a symposium to be hosted by the University Association for the Qualification of Early-Career Researchers in Germany (UniWiND e.V.), together with Heidelberg University. It will focus on the question of how universities and research institutions can best support and accompany young researchers coming to Germany (“incoming”) and those going abroad (“outgoing”). The UniWIND Symposium 2024 “Advancing international perspectives for early career researchers” is taking place in early October in Heidelberg. Registrations close on 15 July.

The event will deal with the topic of internationalisation in various lectures and workshops, for instance on formats of academic cooperation during the doctoral phase or preparing international doctoral students for the non-university employment market in Germany. A panel discussion will delve into the role of international mobility today in the doctoral and postdoc phase, and ask what significance it has for subsequent careers in academia. The symposium also provides an opportunity for participants to consider internationalisation at their own location with respect to the obstacles existing for incoming and outgoing young researchers, and how they can be removed. 

The speakers will be members of different universities or experts from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Scholars Organization and the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies. A best-practice session aims to spotlight existing support structures at the universities and research institutions, as offered e.g. by graduate institutions or international offices, and to encourage discussion about them. 

The symposium is being funded by the DAAD and supported by the Graduate Academy of Heidelberg University. The event, to take place in German and English, is open to all those concerned with the topic of internationalisation in universities and research institutions. Doctoral students and postdocs interested in university policy are, however, invited to attend as well. For doctoral students, participation is free of charge. The UniWiND Symposium 2024 “Advancing international perspectives for early career researchers” is taking place at Heidelberg University on 2 October.