Staff Mobility Task Force Meeting Notes
University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
6.-7.11.2017
Present: Kirsi Korhonen (Helsingin yliopisto)
Olga Canas (Universidad de Coimbra)
Laura Roop (Tartu Ülikool)
Dorota Maciejowska (Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie)
on Skype - Monika Sprung (Ruhr Universitat Bochum)
The meeting was held on the premises of the University of Coimbra’s International Relations office (DRI). The meeting was from Monday to Tuesday, with Sunday and Wednesday being travelling days.
Agenda:
1. Greetings 2. Rectors’ Meeting 3. AGM and AGM minutes 4. Task Force Action Plan 5. Further Developments and Ideas for Activities 6. Miscellaneous
1. Greetings
The meeting started with a welcome from the director of DRI, Filomena Marques de Carvalhoh. We also met Ana Isabel Ferreira, who has recently changed task forces and left her seat for Olga Canas. Olga had met the other members for dinner the previous evening already.
2. Rectors’ Meetings
Kirsi told the other members about the Rectors’ Meeting in Hull and especially on the discussion around the network’s activities, including the task force activities. It was noted that the development of concrete services and sharing of best practices and tools etc. is considered worthwhile by everyone.
3. AGM and AGM Minutes
Kirsi told the other members about the AGM and topics discussed there, including the round table discussions and name change for this task force. It was noted that the development of concrete services and sharing of best practices and tools etc. is considered worthwhile by everyone. A request for another workshop/training session came up in the round table discussions.
4. TF Action Plan
The Task Force has implemented 2 of the 3 items on it’s current Action Plan. The first was attendance in the Rectors’ Meeting and AGM and the second attendance as expert speakers on JUst a Week. Comments on the success of JUst a Week can be read in the Autumn Newsletter and Jagellonian University’s newsletter.
Laura from University of Tartu, Sebastian from Bochum University and Kirsi from University of Helsinki attended the week as expert speakers presenting their universities activities regarding researcher mobility and promoting the network. Dorota from Jagellonian University was one of the organisers.
The third item on the Action Plan is exploring the possibility of creating a network with corporate HR. Each TF member will discuss possible contacts with their local colleagues and approach these contacts to see if they would be interested in networking. Kirsi will write a short text to assist in the initial contact. If the idea gathers interest, TF will organise a Skype meeting at first and discuss further developments together with the corporate HR contacts. Ideas for activities include inviting HR as expert speakers and organising study visits.
5. Further Developments and Ideas for Activities
The Task Force came up with new ideas for activities to benefit both mobile researchers, the development of services and professional skills. These activities could be spread out over the following years which would bring stability to the task force.
The activities suggested include:
a) International Competency Workshops for Young Researchers b) Competency Development for Global Mobility Experts (workshops/study visits etc.) c) Utrecht Network Staff Exchange
The idea is that a) and b) could be organised on a rotational schedule and c) would be included in the existing student exchanges with MAUI, AEN and REARI-RJ.
a) The workshops would aim to build the international competencies of young researchers and encourage them to gain international experience. The Staff Mobility Task Force would organise the workshops in cooperation with experts from research services, career & training services, etc. A workshop could be organised e.g. every second year in some UN member university. Topics could include developing soft skills such as international competencies, intercultural communication, introduction to aspects of mobility (being your university’s ambassador, practical considerations in relocation). Goal is to increase interest towards and opportunities for mobility for young researchers. TF has formulated a proposal on this activity.
b) The Task Force can also facilitate in updating and developing the skills of expert staff. Building the expertise in global mobility issues within the UN member universities is important to ensure good quality services and topical service development. To facilitate this, study visits could be organised to relevant organisations (university/company/NGO/etc.) that can provide the participants with a benchmarking reference and opportunity to learn. Also more workshops or other training sessions could be organised on useful topics such as talent attraction and retention, international recruitment, researcher career development, cooperation with other organisations (city, council, corporate, NGO), digitalisation of mobility services, etc. TF has formulated a proposal on this activity.
c) TF could investigate expanding current cooperation to include staff mobility. The suggestion is to include academic and administrative (incl. PhD students) in the current cooperation programmes with Utrecht Network and MAUI/AEN/REARI-RJ. OR if the addition is not possible, creating a programme to support said mobility. TF has formulated a proposal on this activity.
6. Miscellaneous
The Task Force also discussed membership issues as one member, Jill Haynes, has been inactive after changing positions at her university. She is also now on maternity leave. It was agreed that Kirsi would approach her again after she comes back from maternity leave. Jill is a valued member of the task force and it would be great to have her back as an active participant.
The Task Force would like to request using the leftover budget for another face to face meeting in the spring of 2018 to further advance the activities of the task force.
The Task Force also got a tour of the University of Coimbra to learn more of its history and present. It gave all task force members good information to help in promoting Coimbra as a place for exchange or other cooperation within the network.