On April 30 and May 1, the OPEN COST Action 2nd Annual Conference at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, was concluded with a "peer-to-peer" research colloquium for early career scholars. Held annually, this colloquium supports the opportunity to share works-in-progress and engage in peer-to-peer feedback. Participants share and discuss preliminary research findings with fellow early career scholars from across Europe. This interaction greatly benefits the research processes of both the presenters and those participating in the discussions. 

Mare Ushkovska from the International Balkan University, who chaired the event together with Elif Kara from Eskisehir Osmangazi University and Benoît Josset from University of Renne, noted that: 

“The ECS colloquium organized each year as part of the annual conference of COST OPEN provides early career researchers with a platform to present our work in progress to a group of peers who could offer constructive feedback, as well as a safe space to share experiences with common challenges faced by young scholars and discuss best practices for overcoming them.” 

However, the ECS colloquium is not only an important tool for early career scholas to improve academically, but also a great networking opportunity. As Co-chair Benoit notes: 

“For researchers starting their careers, engaging with international peers is crucial. The Open Cost Action provides a space where we all focus on related research interests. This creates an environment where we can share our work-in-progress without feeling judged or competitive, all of this with a value of Openess. The Early career symposium also serves as a foundation for building a network, for starting in collaborative publication but at other levels too.” 

Paula Silven from Tampere University comments on how her experience presenting at the Colloquium has changed her view on her own academic work: 

“I used to have imposter syndrome, I still do to some degree, but I realized I should be looking at it from another perspective. My supervisors who are proven in their field have said I was good enough to pursue a PhD and that my research is good enough - so not believing that I belong is like me saying their opinion is incorrect and that I actually do know better than them, which is ironic” 

This year, the first panel held on April 30st featured keynotes on “The influence of various funding mechanisms on academic freedom”, while the second panel on May 1st featured keynotes on the “political interrelation”. Colloquium chair Elif Kara has commented on the structure of this year's ECSC: 

”This all-in-one activity combined peer-to-peer academic discussions with the sharing of experiences related to being an early career scholar—networking at its best. This year, the ECS Colloquium featured two thematic sessions dedicated to participants' scholarly work: one focused on the challenges and impact of various funding mechanisms on academia, and the other explored the political interrelations between academic and geopolitical developments. The final session of the colloquium provided a platform to discuss the needs of early career scholars and the common challenges they face. 

Using online tools, we collected anonymous responses on their needs, challenges, motivations, perceived threats to academic freedom, as well as success stories and examples of good practices. We also gathered expressions of interest in joint publications and potential research topics. The instant matchmaking results demonstrated that the ECS Colloquium is a valuable opportunity and effectively fulfills its purpose.” 

During the event six early career scholars presented their work. This year’s six presentations were:

WEDNESDAY, 30 APRIL: 1st ECS panel - The Influence of Various Funding Mechanisms on Academia. 

Amer Kurtović, International Burch University, Bosnia and Herzegovina 
The Role of Project Collaborations in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Integration with the European Research Area 

Michele Martini, University of Manchester, UK 
Rewiring the University: Higher Education and the Challenge of Big Tech Monopolies 

Paula Silvén, Mikko Poutanen and Tuomas Tervasmäki, Tampere University, Finland 
Academic freedom contingent on funding: Authoritarian potential within performance-based funding models? 

THURSDAY, 1 MAY: 2nd ECS panel - Political Interrelations 

Anıl Ersöz, Middle East Technical University, Turkiye 
The Instrumentalization of Higher Education by Populist Regimes in the Securitization Process 

Keti Tsotniashvili, Ilia State University, Georgia 
Geopolitical Shifts and Academic Identities: The Liminality of Academic Space in Georgia 

Elena Mandaji, Cahul State University "Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu", Moldova 
The Evolution of University Governance in the European Context