One Year of SMART Researchers!

The SMART Researchers project officially kicked off, bringing partners together around a shared goal: strengthening research careers and supporting Early-Stage Researchers with the skills, opportunities, and support they need to thrive.

The project began with comprehensive institutional HR audits and an assessment of researchers' perceptions and experiences across four key pillars, in alignment with the ERA Policy Agenda (Action 4: Strengthening research careers in the European Research Area).

Two key activities were at the heart of this phase:

• Institutional HR Audits, assessing recruitment, career progression, working conditions, talent development, and sectoral mobility across partner institutions.
• SMART Researchers Questionnaire, gathering ESR perspectives on ethics and integrity, gender and Open Science, recruitment and progression, working conditions, and research careers.

The first results of the SMART Researchers project came in, providing valuable insights into the needs, experiences, and challenges faced by Early-Stage Researchers, as well as the institutional practices that support their career development.

The SMART Researchers Questionnaire

The questionnaire results highlighted researchers' experiences and perspectives, identifying both strengths and areas where further support is needed.

HR Audits Results

The HR Audits provided insights into institutional policies and practices supporting researchers' careers, development, and working conditions, in line with the European Charter for Researchers and HRS4R principles.

On 19-20 March, SMART Researchers partners met in Split to reflect on the first six months of the project, exchange insights and align on the next phase of activities. The discussions combined a review of progress with forward-looking planning, ensuring a shared understanding of achievements and upcoming steps.

SMART RESEARCHERS successfully completed 2 surveys targeting ESRs and mentors. We conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of the SMART Researchers survey across Serbia, Croatia, and Greece. The surveys explored what competencies are essential for successful research careers and to what extent these competencies are supported in practice. Based on responses from 247 ESRs and 183 mentors and supervisors, the findings reveal a consistent gap between the importance of competencies across all seven ResearchComp domains and the support available to develop them.

During the summer, partners worked on Strategic Action Plans for ESR Career Development, translating identified needs and challenges into concrete actions to improve working conditions and strengthen support for researchers. Several partner institutions have already formally adopted and published their plans, while the remaining HEIs and RPOs are expected to complete formal adoption by the end of October 2026.

SMART Researchers partners moved forward with the implementation of Institutional Plans for Career Support Centres, laying the basis for establishing or upgrading services that will support researchers throughout their careers. The project also completed the Gold Standard Learning Unit, which will guide the development of all 39 Learning Units and provide the foundation for the micro-credentialing and certification framework.

Every month, one of the SMART Researchers consortium partners shares a practical tip for researchers, covering topics that can support their professional development and research journey.

Hear advice from:

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