“SEEDS for Tomorrow: Supporting Education, Employability, and Development of PhD candidates” aims to transform the academic landscape by bridging education and the professional world. Our community is dedicated to enhancing the PhD journey through a comprehensive blend of innovative pedagogy, well-being strategies, and career preparation. By leveraging an inclusive online platform, we facilitate global networking and collaboration, ensuring that every PhD candidate, regardless of location, can engage in meaningful international experiences. Our initiatives include interactive workshops, career mapping tools, and cutting-edge sessions on AI’s role in academia. By integrating these resources into a vibrant, connected network, we aim to empower future leaders, foster sustainable research careers, and cultivate a culture of shared knowledge and innovation. Join us as we shape the future of academia and support our PhD candidates in achieving excellence and successful career transitions.
The NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) aims to bridge academia and the job market, elevate PhD candidates experience, stimulate scientific excellence and
knowledge transfer, and ultimately “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being” (SDG3) in academia and beyond.
The Pedagogical and Student Support Group of NOVA FCT is committed to fostering Pedagogical Innovation and Well-Being, focusing its efforts on the scientific, professional, and personal development of the community.
This project builds upon an interdisciplinary network within NOVA University, bringing together three key schools — NOVA FCT (School of Science and Technology), NOVA Medical School (NOVA NMS), and NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE). By fostering collaboration between these distinct academic units, the initiative creates synergies that enhance the doctoral experience, ensuring a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to PhD professional development and well-being.
The integration of these three schools allows for a unique intersection of expertise:
- NOVA FCT contributes its strong research focus, particularly in STEM fields, where PhD candidates often face significant challenges in transitioning to academic
and non-academic careers. The faculty provides insights into the technical and scientific aspects of doctoral training, ensuring that the project is well-grounded in research methodologies and scientific career trajectories. - NOVA Medical School brings a strong research focus on health sciences and expertise in areas related to mental health and well-being. Given the increasing recognition of mental health challenges in doctoral education, this partnership is crucial in developing evidence-based interventions that support PhD candidates’ psychological resilience and work-life balance.
- NOVA SBE offers critical knowledge in entrepreneurship, management, and career development, ensuring that PhD candidates are equipped with the necessary skills to
navigate both academic and industry job markets. The school’s experience in leadership training and innovation management also contributes to the pedagogical aspects
of the project, enhancing supervision practices and preparing researchers for diverse career paths.
This collaboration originated from a pilot project supported by the FEEF Program (From Educators to Entrepreneurial Educators) of NOVA’s Rectorate, which initially explored how to improve entrepreneurial skills and career transitions. The success of this pilot underscored the need for a broader, institutionalized initiative that could be scaled across different disciplines.
To further enrich this initiative, we will work closely with international partners who are experts in PhD professional development and pedagogical innovation:
- The University of Warwick is a leader in professional development for PhD candidates and early-career researchers. Their expertise will help identify gaps in doctoral training and career preparedness, providing valuable insights into best practices for mentoring, employability skills, and non-academic career transitions.
- The University of Ljubljana brings deep expertise in pedagogical innovation, particularly in doctoral education. Their experience in co-creation methodologies and innovative learning environments will guide the project in designing effective, research-based training for PhD candidates and supervisors.
Additionally, the NOVA Human Development Office plays a crucial role in integrating existing initiatives related to well-being and pedagogical development. By aligning this project with ongoing institutional efforts, we ensure that its outcomes are not only sustainable but also contribute to enhancing and expanding current best practices at NOVA.
By leveraging the strengths of these diverse academic units and international partners, this project creates an integrated and sustainable model for PhD professional development, wellbeing, and supervision excellence, with long-term benefits for doctoral candidates, supervisors, and the broader research ecosystem.
This initiative aligns with Action 4 of the ERA policy by promoting attractive and sustainable research careers, balanced talent circulation, and international, transdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility.
Activities for PHD
Upcoming Activities
PhD career crafting
- Description
- Interactive workshop where PhD candidates map career transition challenges and cocreate solutions.
- Output
- Workshop participation data; documented career challenges and solutions.
- Outcome
- PhDs gain clarity on career options and strategies for transition; promote networking among PhDs for scientific collaborations.
The PhD Career Map
- Description
- Interactive tool allowing PhDs to explore various career paths with testimonials and guides.
- Output
- Testimonials from participants from the 3 universities; it can be extended to other EUTOPIA partners after the project ends
- Outcome
- PhDs make informed career decisions based on structured career pathways.
Future of Academic Careers “Taking the most out of AI”: Innovation in Teaching & Supervision
- Description
- Session on innovative teaching and supervision methods for Researchers, Faculty and PhDs.
- Output
- Practical guidelines and case studies on AI integration in teaching and supervision
- Outcome
- Improved teaching methodologies and supervision practices in academia.
Panel: Transition Stories from PhD to Industry & Academia
- Description
- Roundtable discussion with former PhDs from academia, industry, and entrepreneurship sharing career strategies.
- Output
- Recorded panel session; engagement statistics.
- Outcome
- Enhanced awareness of diverse career paths; stronger professional networks.
Negotiation & Leadership for PhDs
- Description
- Training in negotiation and leadership skills for team management in academic and business settings.
- Output
- Number of participants trained; self-assessment reports on leadership growth.
- Outcome
- PhDs develop leadership capabilities crucial for career advancement.
Building a Research Portfolio for Impact
- Description
- Workshop on structuring a research portfolio to maximize opportunities in academia and industry.
- Output
- Research portfolio templates; examples of successful applications.
- Outcome
- Stronger academic profiles; better career positioning.
Mentorship Circles
- Description
- Mentoring program connecting PhDs with experts in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.
- Output
- Number of mentor-mentee matches; meeting logs.
- Outcome
- Strengthened connections between PhDs and experts, fostering career development.
Peer Networking Sessions
- Description
- Virtual meetups for PhDs from different universities to share experiences and challenges.
- Output
- Attendance records; discussion summaries.
- Outcome
- Greater peer support network; shared problem-solving for PhD challenges.
Past Activities
activities for seeds organising team
Funding Strategies for Sustainable Impact
- Description
- Bringing together colleagues from each university to outline funding proposals in pedagogical innovation, building on the results of this project and the experience gained
- Output
- List of potential funding calls identified. Draft versions of funding applications developed.
- Outcome
- Increased chances of securing financial support to sustain and expand project initiatives; Strengthened grant-writing skills among organizers, enhancing the long-term impact of the Connected Community.
From Research to Publication: Sharing Our Findings
- Description
- Session on structuring research findings into publications, targeting journals, policy briefs,
- and practical guides for broad dissemination, including open-access and stakeholder knowledge transfer.
- Output
- Drafted research papers and policy briefs based on project findings. Dissemination strategy for maximizing the visibility of results.
- Outcome
- Enhanced visibility and impact of project findings in academic and professional communities; Stronger collaboration between partner institutions through co-authored publications and shared research outputs.
How to Get Involved
Contact the Connected Community Lead Teresa Santos-Silva (tsss@fct.unl.pt) or the Local Facilitator Carolina Pereira (carolina.pereira@unl.pt).