What 62 Researchers Told Us About Their Experiences, and Institutional Practices at UNSFTS
In December 2025, the SMART Researcher coordinating organisation, the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Novi Sad (UNSFTS), conducted the Questionnaire for Researchers with the aim of assessing institutional practices related to research careers in line with the principles of the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Charter for Researchers.
Interactive Sessions with ESRs
A total of 62 participants completed the SMART Researchers Questionnaire, representing different research career stages (R1–R4), with the majority being early-stage researchers (R1). Participants spanned a range of age groups, predominantly between 25 and 39 years.
Five interactive sessions were held in person at the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad, alongside one online session. The in-person sessions were designed to ensure engagement, clarity, and consistency in completing the questionnaire, while the online session accommodated participants unable to attend on-site due to scheduling or logistical constraints.
During all sessions, respondents completed the quantitative section individually, with facilitators available to provide clarification where needed. Qualitative insights were collected through facilitated group discussions, allowing participants to contextualise their responses and elaborate on key aspects of their research-career experiences. This mixed-mode, facilitated approach ensured methodological consistency, quantitative comparability, and qualitative depth, while maintaining inclusiveness across career stages and organisational units.
Each session began with an introductory presentation of the SMART Researchers project, outlining its objectives, key concepts, and relevance to current European Research Area (ERA) priorities, as well as the main policy instruments and guiding principles. The SMART Researchers Questionnaire was then presented in detail, with each of the four ERA pillars explained to ensure a shared understanding of the questionnaire’s scope and framework.
Participants completed both the Likert-scale and open-ended sections with the support of facilitators, who encouraged discussion and provided clarification as needed. The interactive format allowed participants to reflect on their experiences and share perspectives, fostering a collaborative and engaging environment while ensuring clarity and completeness of responses.
What we learned
The findings confirm strong individual motivation, professional autonomy, and reliance on personal initiative or informal mentoring. Positive interpersonal relationships with supervisors at the individual level are recognised as an important strength of the research environment.
Key Challenges
– Weak institutionalisation of training, mentoring, career planning, and broader support mechanisms
– Limited transparency and predictability of career progression pathways
– Insufficient communication regarding development opportunities and assessment criteria
Next Steps
As a research-intensive faculty with a strong international orientation, UNSFTS is committed to aligning its research-career policies and practices with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the priorities of the European Research Area.
Participation in the SMART Researchers project reflects UNSFTS’s strategic commitment to evidence-based institutional development and continuous improvement of research-career frameworks.
Future development efforts should focus on:
– Strengthening structured, transparent, and accessible support systems for researchers
– Improving career assessment and progression frameworks beyond predominantly quantitative indicators
-Enhancing job stability, professional development opportunities, and researcher participation in governance
– Institutionalising mentoring, career guidance, and preparation for diverse career paths