From Structured Networking to Meaningful Conversations
Held as part of the 2026 UACES Doctoral Training Academy, the Small-Group Networking Session provided PhD students and Early Career Researchers with an opportunity to engage directly with experienced researchers and professionals working across different areas of academic and professional life. The session was designed to complement the broader professional development programme by creating a more informal and interactive space for participants to exchange experiences, ask questions and develop new connections.
The session brought together 12 experts with experience in areas including academic publishing, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and different early career researcher profiles and pathways. Rather than following a traditional panel format, the activity was organised around small rotating groups. Participants moved between the different experts throughout the session, allowing them to engage with a range of perspectives and have more focused conversations in a smaller setting.
The four areas were chosen by asking a fairly simple question: what do Early Career Researchers need to know to navigate academia today? Leadership in Academia focused on the different forms leadership can take at an early career stage: from organising projects and events to taking on responsibilities within your university department, and ultimately contributing to the wider academic community. Career Development focused on the uncertain, and often difficult, transition that comes after the PhD stage. We brought together different experiences and pathways from people working both within and beyond academia, to show that there is no single route forward and that life after the PhD does not have to follow the cookie-cutter transition straight into academia. Publishing gave participants the opportunity to have one-to-one time with our editors and look behind the curtain of a process that can sometimes feel opaque. We gave them space to talk openly about ideas, peer review, rejections, and finding a journal where their work might feel right at home. Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Community focused on the environments in which academic careers actually unfold, and on what it means to build spaces where people feel welcomed, supported, and able to participate fully in academic life.
This format encouraged participants to take an active role in shaping the discussions. They were able to ask questions about the experts’ professional trajectories, experiences, and career decisions, while also discussing some of the challenges and opportunities associated with developing a career in and beyond academia. The conversations provided practical insights into different career paths, as well as an opportunity for participants to learn from experiences that may not always be visible through more formal conferences or training sessions.
An important outcome of the activity was the opportunity for participants to expand their professional networks. The small-group format made it easier to establish direct contacts with experts and with other participants attending the session. Beyond exchanging advice and experiences, the activity therefore helped create connections that participants could potentially continue developing during the UACES Annual Conference and thereafter. The diversity of the experts’ backgrounds, who hailed from institutions across Europe, also meant that participants were exposed to different approaches to research careers, leadership, publishing, and creating more inclusive academic environments.
Feedback from participants was very positive. The informal nature of the activity was particularly valuable in creating an open atmosphere in which participants felt comfortable asking questions and discussing their own experiences and concerns. The experts also contributed to this atmosphere through their willingness to share personal experiences and engage openly with participants.
The setting contributed significantly to the success of the session. As the conversations developed, most of the groups moved to the courtyard of the Hollar Building at Charles University. This provided a relaxed and pleasant environment for continued discussion and networking, and reinforced the informal character of the activity. The courtyard ultimately became a natural space for participants and experts to continue their conversations beyond the initial structure of the rotations. For us, this was probably the best sign that our format had worked: once the structure and the rigid format of the rotations had faded into the background, people simply kept the conversations going. What started as a planned, and very structured, networking activity gradually evolved into something more natural, with conversations going beyond not only the allotted time, but also the event itself, continuing throughout the Annual Conference and possibly even beyond that.
Overall, the session achieved its main objectives of facilitating peer learning, professional exchange and networking. By combining structured rotations with informal conversation, it created space for participants to gain practical insights, make new contacts, and reflect on their own potential career paths. The positive feedback and continued conversations in the courtyard demonstrated the value of creating informal, accessible spaces for connection within the wider UACES Doctoral Training Academy. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all the experts who participated in the session and generously shared their time, experiences, and insights with our participants. Their openness and willingness to engage in conversation were an essential part of what made the session so valuable and helped create the welcoming and informal atmosphere that allowed the discussions to continue well beyond the planned format.