EURAXESS Researchers in Motion Integrate foreign researchers Training

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion Integrate foreign researchers Training Beograd, 7 April 2017 –Brigitte Ernst , R&D Department, Université de Liège

1 Europe needs researchers - Against strong and increasing competition; - Against background of the imminent retirement of a significant part of Europe’s research workforce; - In the light of Europe’s ambitions for higher investments in R&D and innovation… to preserve economic growth The objective is to mainstream mobility, based on the paradigm of “brain circulation”, across and also outside Europe, to maximise knowledge sharing and at the same time benefit from European career perspectives

2 The European Research Area (ERA) ERA’s objective is to maximize the free circulation of knowledge, to ensure diversification of perspectives and thus better research. As a consequence researchers will get increased opportunities for mobility and careers in Europe. Countries with open and attractive research systems are also strong perfomers in terms of innovation

3 Some figures: MORE study In 2010, there were 1, 59 million FTE researchers in the EU , still increasing (but still behind the US and Japan ) One third was female, less than half was working in the private sector In 2013, 15% of the researchers working in the EU are currently mobile. There are 70. 000 researchers coming from outside the EU , mainly from Cina, India and the US. Source: -More study- Study on mobility patterns and career paths of EU researchers (June 2010) -More study 2 (August 2013) -More 3 is still ongoing (see Idea Consult website for more info )

4 Some figures: Analysis of Reseachers mobility in the context of the ERA- Annamaria Inzelt The number of researchers in the EU has increased in the last decade. This is a global trend, not only european. The data about researchers are still insufficient. An indicator of mobility is the number of foreign PHD students; The average is 20%, but unevenly shared: 25% in Western countries, only 10 % in Southern and Eastern Europe. Source: Analysis of Researchers mobility in the context of the ERA, Annamaria Inzelt, 2016

5 And at Université de Liège ? At ULG, Euraxess Services exists since 2005 Its missions are : To facilitate the integration of international researchers and their family, before, during and after their stay at ULg o To assist researchers from ULg in setting up their mobility project abroad o. To inform academics from ULg who intend to recruit or invite a foreign researcher. o

6 And at Université de Liège ? 900 Nombre d'interventions Euraxess 844 800 742 700 645 600 564 521 500 497 400 300 200 Nombre d'interve 216 174 100 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

7 EURAXESS ULg IS HERE TO HELP o Young researchers: mainly PHD students and postdoc (R 1 and R 2 ) o Mainly from non EU countries (Asia, 2 Africa) o FAQ: visa and residence permit, funding opportunities, accommodation, health

Second part: the main issues faced by foreign researchers

8 EURAXESS Surveys : Vitae survey in the framework of the Impact. E projet: conducted in 2013, 188 responses http: //www. impacte. eu/documentation-researcherscareer-structures-and-training-needs

Impact. E Researcher Survey (1) The most common factors that mobile researchers thought were areas for improvement when integrating into a new environment i. e. the things they would like to see or what they would consider useful. The bar graph represents the number of responses received in each category. 15 16 14 13 14 11 12 10 10 10 8 6 4 2 ci na n Fi tio od a m co m Ac al n su su pp or itu st in m fro rt ef fo n io at gr in te e M or t t . t. . es iti tiv ac al ci so e M or ua la ng e M or Ad m ge in co su ur pp o se rt s 0

Impact. E Researcher Survey (2) The most common factors that mobile researchers thought worked well for them in their integration into a new environment. The bar graph represents the number of responses received in each category. 35 31 30 25 20 20 15 15 13 13 12 12 10 5 0 Social activities Team Multinational Friendly team Cultural Language Own working teams integration improvement willingness to environment integrate

9 EURAXESS Surveys : Heraklion workshop Conducted in April 2015 at the initiative of the Irish and Bulgarian BHOs, involvement of the Impact. E partners and of the whole Euraxess network, through the extranet : 464 answers from Indian and Chinese researchers were analyzed http: //www. impacte. eu/intercultural-integration-survey

• Everyday communication with people and food related issues are the biggest inconveniences for both nationality groups • The organizational culture at work and language is slightly more difficult for Chinese than for Indian researchers.

Which factors may explain a good level of integration of researchers form China into European environment ? • Obviously duration of the mobility is important for successful integration. • But also awareness and common effort of hosting institution and work colleagues to help integration are crucial. The picture shows that a vast majority of well integrated Chinese respondents were offered socializing activities on many occasions.

The responses from Indian researchers confirm our finding on importance of social activities for successful integration. The next slide will show who plays most important role in overcoming problems and obstacles.

It is obvious that colleagues at work and friends are the most helpful when it comes to help with problems. It is also encouraging to see an active role of employers in assisting researchers with problems. European employers and EURAXESS in particular can play a crucial role in better integration of foreign researchers into

What could be changed to facilitate integration of researchers in Europe ? Indian [%] Chinese [%]

◦ Section 3 : some initiatives at Université de Liège

10 EXPERIENCES FROM ULg Some guidance before arrival: Welcome guide online https: //www. ulg. ac. be/cms/c_6570171/en/welcome-guide

11 EXPERIENCES FROM ULg Some guidance before arrival: video Welcome to Liège http: //www. ulg. ac. be/cms/c_2559829/fr/welcome-to-liege

12 EXPERIENCES FROM ULg Social etiquette of the host country : Do’s and don’ts Look at the Train the trainer guide flipbook, page 52 http: //www. editura. ubbcluj. ro/bd/ebooks/pdf/1947. pdf A funny movie about French clichés https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=ERD 2 Tn. MNH 98 More examples: Germany, Norway , …

13 EXPERIENCES FROM ULg Language: -the most usual sentences -translation of forms and rules in English -free language courses

14 EXPERIENCES FROM ULg Social activities: Welcome event

-International cooking (page 36 TTT guide: http: //www. editura. ubbcluj. ro/bd/ ebooks/pdf/1947. pdf

-Meet & Greet

-Linkin’ Wallonia

15 Other suggested useful practices Integration trainings for home staff Mentoring, buddy system

10 EXPERIENCES Recap Some guidance before arrival: Welcome guide online Social etiquette of the host country : Do’s and don’ts Language: -the most usual sentences -translation of forms and rules in English -free language courses Social activities: -Welcome event -international cooking -Meet & Greet -Linkin’ Wallonia Integration trainings for home staff Mentoring, buddy system

Thank you! Brigitte Ernst, Université de Liège Belgium http: //ec. europa. eu/euraxess