Sharing ideas across Europe
Second EUniWell Centre for Advanced Studies Symposium at the Zukunftskolleg
Under the heading “Early academic careers – Transitioning between systems in a changing world”, the second symposium of the EUniWell Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) took place on 8-10 October 2025 at the Zukunftskolleg. Doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from all eleven EUniWell member universities were invited to attend.
The symposium was the most important EUniWell event for academic networking. It offered a platform for facilitating research and collaboration and for leveraging the capacities of the EUniWell alliance members across generations and disciplines.
The aim was to
- Meet other young scholars across disciplines from 11 European Universities partnering in the EUniWell alliance
- Shape the future of the “EUniWell Centre for Advanced Studies” for young scholars
- Present research posters and find new collaboration partners across the member institutions
- Learn about funding opportunities and international mobility within EUniWell
The programme offered training sessions on digital skills as well as discussions on the unique challenges of the transition phase between doctoral degree and professorship. Moreover, the participants had the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary workshops on EUniWell’s thematic arenas – multilingualism, equality, teacher education, health, and sustainability – and to present their research in a poster session.
Each day was dedicated to a specific area
- Day 1: Trainings around digital skills and the future of early career researchers (ECRs)
- Day 2: Inspiration and discussion around the beauty and specialties of the ECR phase and benefits of a Centre for Advanced Studies
- Day 3: Interdisciplinary workshops around the thematic arenas of EUniWell a) Multilingualism in Academia b) Equality in Academia c) Teacher Education d) Health and Sustainability e) The Evolution of the EUniWell Centre for Advanced Studies
To prepare, an online session as well as a poster gallery took place in September prior to the physical event.
Programme
Wednesday, 8 October
Well-Being Centre for Doctoral Students and Postdoctoral Researchers
12:00 Lunch and registration
13:00–14:00 Welcome
by Daniela Kromey and Renate Krüßmann
Part I – Doctoral Language Café with Ramona Baumgartner, Louise Rigal, Il-Il Yatziv-Malibert
14:00–17:00 Trainings around Digital Skills and the Future of ECRs
- (Generative) Artificial Intelligence in (Higher) Education – A Practical Approach for Educators
Trainers: Beatrix Busse and Ingo Kleiber, University of Cologne - Introduction to Open Science: Exploring the Building Blocks of Transparent and Inclusive Research
Trainer: Josefine Honke, University of Konstanz - AI and Data Management. A Focus on Sex and Gender Categorizations in Clinical Decision Support Systems
Trainer: Pascale Kuntz, University of Nantes - Lost in Translation
On the Opportunities and Risks of Language Transformation with Artificial Intelligence
Trainer: Alexander Klein, University of Konstanz - Well-Being in Academia: Building Resilience for a Sustainable Scientific Career
Trainers: Anna Maria Papini and Monica Faraoni, University of Florence
19:00–21:30 Dinner in town
Part II – Doctoral Language Café with Ramona Baumgartner, Louise Rigal, Il-Il Yatziv-Malibert
Location: Il Boccone, Konstanz
Thursday, 9 October
Inspiration and Discussion around the ECR Phase and the Benefits of a Centre for Advanced Studies
8:30 Registration of new arrivals
9:00 Welcome address
by Isabell Otto, Vice Rector for Diversity and Academic Staff Development
9:15 The Zukunftskolleg and its 5i’s
“How beneficial is interdisciplinarity, internationality, intra-university, independence and inter-generational exchange for ECRs?”
Speaker: Gruia Badescu, Research Fellow at the Zukunftskolleg
9:45 Inter-generational: mutually beneficial for both seniors and youngsters?
EUniWell Champion Lifetime Journeys of Academics
Speaker: Azucena Mora, EUniWell Champion, University of Santiago
10:15–12:30 International round table
Transitioning between academic systems in a changing world
Diverse experiences and challenges of young scholars and how a European “Centre of Advanced Studies” can address and smooth ECR issues
Moderated by Tanja Edelhäußer, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office, University of Konstanz
13:00 Lunch
Research poster exhibition
14:00 Inter-connecting: scientific speed dating
Moderated by Alexandra Frasch, Cluster of Excellence “The Politics of Inequality”
16:00–16:30 Keynote
“The global diversity of institutes for advanced studies – one model fits all?”
Speaker: Britta Padberg, The New Institute, Hamburg
Video recording of keynote lecture
16:30–17:15 “How much of an IAS is within the “EUniWell CAS”?
Fishbowl discussion with Britta Padberg, Dirk Leuffen and others invited to contribute
Moderated by Juan Corrales
19:00–22:00 Conference dinner in town
With an Apéro to start
Location: Wirtshaus, Konstanz
Friday, 10 October
Interdisciplinary Workshops around the Thematic Arenas of EUniWell
8:30 Arrival and coffee
9:00–9:30 EUniWell – what’s in for ECRs?
Speaker: Daniela Kromrey
9:30–12:00 Workshops “Interdisciplinary Thinking: EUniWell and its arenas”
A) Advancing Inclusive Gender Equality and Diversity in an Era of Globalization
Lead: Charlotte Silander, Linnaeus University, Agnete Vabø, Oslo Met and Marion Woelki, University of Konstanz
Arena 2 Social Equality and Well-Being
B) Language Choices in Research: Balancing Anglicization and Linguistic Diversity
Lead: Theo Marinis, University of Konstanz, Louise Rigal, Inalco Paris
Arena 4 Culture, Multilingualism and Well-Being
C) Career Pathways in Teaching – Investigating Well-Being and Career Decisions in the Teaching Profession
Lead: Carmen Widera, University of Konstanz
Arena 5 Teacher Education and Well-Being
D) Bridging Health and Environmental Sustainability – Framing Impactful Research through Interdisciplinary Collaboration for the SDGs
Lead: Sara Ronco, University of Florence
Arena 1 Health and Well-Being & Arena 3 Environmental Change and Well-Being
E) The Evolution of the EUniWell Centre for Advanced Studies
Lead: Juan Corrales, University of Santiago
12:30–13:30 Close
Prize Award Ceremony & Outlook for 3rd Symposium
Speaker: Daniela Kromrey
13:30 Lunch
