Time: Thursday 8 May at 13.00-14.00

How to recruit the next Nobel Prize winner with global security aspects in mind? 

Geopolitical tensions make collaboration with high-risk countries challenging as they can represent a threat to our fundamental values and security, but recruiting top talents globally is an important means of achieving quality and relevance in education. How can academia facilitate international recruitment and reception while keeping the security aspect in mind when other industries are closing the door? We will look at tools and best practice examples for how we can continue recruitment and international collaboration through responsible internationalization.  

Speakers:

Karin Fälth, Lund University, Sweden  

Erik Kvist, Lund University, Sweden  

Monica Figueroa, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 13.00-14.00

Workshop about career nurturing services including language support and cultural integration. 

Whether you represent a smaller institution or a larger one, this workshop offers actionable insights, practical tools, and a chance to contribute to a growing network of best practices. During this interactive workshop, we will delve into innovative ways to support international researchers and their families. Together, we will explore the unique challenges faced by smaller universities compared to larger institutions, reflecting on the pros and cons of each. Beyond differences in scope, we will uncover what unites us all - our shared commitment to fostering inclusion, cultural understanding, and academic excellence. 

Speakers:

Jo Ebert Håkonsson, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 

Helena Olsbo, University of Vaasa, Finland 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 13.00-14.00

How to build an Employer Brand that Attracts and Retains Researchers?

This workshop dives into practical strategies for building an employer brand that attracts researchers. You’ll gain insights into what researchers value most — such as growth opportunities, resources, and a welcoming culture — and discover how to highlight these strengths effectively. Learn from examples shared by the University of Oulu and BTH, and leave with actionable ideas to showcase why researchers should choose your organization, helping you attract and retain top talent in academia and beyond. 

Speakers:  

Jenni Martaniemi, University of Oulu, Finland 

Lina Göransson, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 13.00-14.00

Two universities of different sizes from different countries share their journey from using external relocation services towards a centralized support unit for incoming international staff. The discussion will revolve around differences and similarities, as well as the challenges and advantages encountered on the way to centralizing and working across departments. We take a closer look at the hands-on services offered to incoming international staff and discuss what has been successful and what has not. Ample space will be given for discussions in smaller groups where we share experiences. 

Speakers:

Eleanor Suovilla, University of Helsinki, Finland 

Heidi Francke, Malmö University, Sweden 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 13.00-14.00

How to provide career support to researchers at all levels—from doctoral students to senior professors? 

During this session, we will present strategies for fostering meaningful career talks between doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars on the one hand and supervisors, academic leaders or other PhD students/postdocs on the other. We will explore how to tackle the hidden assumptions that these actors often have about career development. We will also present a concept for enhancing the availability of career talks and share our best and most challenging experiences in developing a comprehensive toolbox for career support. 

Speakers:  

Rabbe Hedengren, Uppsala University, Sweden 

Anna Westin, Uppsala University, Sweden 

Kristian Østergaard Sørensen, Aalborg University, Denmark 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 14.30-15.30

This workshop focuses on global threats and best practice related to background screenings for research protection in Denmark. We will cover three aspects of background screening: 1) its principles; 2) process design and flows; 3) and communication strategies for implementation in academic organizations. Through case examples from Aarhus University, the University of Copenhagen, and Roskilde University, as well as group discussions and interactive sum-ups, participants will explore practical insights and reflect on how these approaches align with their institutional practices. 

Speakers:

Louise Elisabeth Seiersen, Aarhus University, Denmark 

Michelle Damborg Foldager, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 

Julia Chuiko-Lund, Roskilde University, Denmark 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 14.30-15.30

When expectations do not align due to cultural differences, how do we build an inclusive workplace? 

Academia is an international environment with people coming from different countries, work cultures, religions and academic disciplines. So how do we succeed in culturally including new researchers?  

We will look at different cultural views and examples from a Scandinavian host perspective. Why is cultural inclusion important to keep researchers and avoid conflicts? We will also do a team task on the topic, to share best practices. 

Speakers:

Jannicke Døvre, University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway 

Chanette Hemdrup Jakobsen, Aalborg University, Denmark 

Time: Thursday 8 May at 14.30-15.30

This workshop will provide insight into two support measures for researchers in Sweden to support a career outside academia. Firstly, the EURAXESS Sweden Career Outside Academia Programme – a digital programme for international junior researchers exploring a possible career outside academia in Sweden. Secondly, you will hear about the Karolinska Institutet Internship programme – a successful internship programme for junior researchers.  

Besides the presentations you will have the possibility to ask questions and also share your own best practice on the topic.  

Speakers:

Therese Lindkvist, Linköping University, Sweden  

Time: Friday 9 May at 11.00-11.45

Session about the importance of language and cultural understanding in the involvement of international staff in the self-governance of academic institutions.

Academic self-governance evolves alongside societal and global shifts, yet the inclusion of international staff remains a challenge, especially in non-English speaking contexts. Language barriers may lead to systematic exclusion, undermining participation in the self-governance of academic institutions. This session explores the role of language and culture in the challenges faced by international academics. Through shared experiences, participants in our session will try to uncover good practices and actionable strategies to foster more inclusive and equitable governance. 

Speakers:  

Chanette Hemdrup Jakobsen, Aalborg University, Denmark 

Lukáš Pospíšil, Agricultural University of Iceland, Iceland 

Time: Friday 9 May at 11.00-11.45

Expectations vs. reality. A comprehensive view of internationals' journeys when moving and settling into a new country 

This session focuses on the importance of international employees’ expectations to prevent premature departures. We will look at bridging the gap between expectations and the reality of everyday life during the recruitment and settling-in process. The session is built around cases and examples from our research and work as well as how municipalities in the Greater Copenhagen area approach these challenges when welcoming and retaining new recruits. In doing so, the value of cross-border collaborations between Sweden and Denmark are addressed. 

Speakers:    

Lisa Andersson, International Citizen Hub Lund, Sweden 

Helene Ilkjær, City of Copenhagen, Denmark 

Time: Friday 9 May at 11.00-11.45

Work from Anywhere – how to stay compliant? 

In this workshop, we’ll explore how to manage international work arrangements like research stays abroad, remote work, and “workation”. We’ll discuss the policies in place at different universities and how they are applied in practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to share experiences, work through real cases, and exchange practical tips, tools, and resources to ensure compliance when supporting mobile researchers.   

Speakers:    

Jill Anette Opsah, University of Bergen, Norway 

Hanna Söderling, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 

Time: Friday 9 May at 11.00-11.45

Organizing and Managing SAR(U) Fellows at Nordic Universities: Challenges, Benefits, and Best Practices  

This workshop explores how Nordic universities organize and manage SAR(U) scholars. It aims to examine the challenges and benefits associated with this process, while also providing an opportunity to learn from the experiences and best practices of participating institutions. Through discussion and exchange, we seek to deepen our understanding of how these efforts can be optimized to support the scholars and the academic community.  

Speakers: 

Vibeke Moll, Aarhus University, Denmark 

Erland Nettum, University of Oslo, Norway 

Time: Friday 9 May at 11.00-11.45

We see you, we need you – joining forces in attracting and maintaining researchers in small Nordic communities  

During this session, we will address the multifaceted challenges small Nordic communities face in attracting and maintaining researchers. We will present the joint efforts by Faroese institutions and authorities in connecting with researchers and master students abroad. We will explore the pros and cons being a small country in the Nordics.    

Speakers:  

Annika Sølvara, Research Council Faroe Islands 

Katrin Poulsen, Head of HR, University of the Faroe Islands