Final Report Summary - EXACT ('Integrated Training Programme for Analysis, Assessment and Advice on EU External Action and its Institutional Architecture')
The Initial Training Network EXACT “Integrated Training Programme for Analysis, Assessment and Advice on EU´s External Action and its Institutional Architecture” prepared 15 early stage and experienced researchers for professional and academic careers in universities as well as in the public and private sector in academically based consulting for policy makers. The training network focused its research on major current and future (academic and political) challenges of EU external action in the fields of theories and strategies, institutional development, Common Commercial Policy, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common European Defence Policy and Development Cooperation. The EXACT training aimed at bridging the gap between Ph.D. training within the academic world on the one hand and the “down-to-earth” need of potential employers in consulting or advisory circles on the other. In order to do so the project pursued an integrated two track curriculum that involved three universities and six think tanks: The scientific track concentrated on academic training leading to a Ph.D. degree, the applied track focused on the training of professional skills. The researchers were given the opportunity to pursue a double Ph.D. degree („co-tutelle”) study programme at two participating universities and to obtain the EXACT Certificate issued by all participating organisations.
EXACT has proven to be an extremely successful endeavour. Three years of training and research (470.5 person months in total) have resulted in a very positive development of academic and professional skills and strongly improved career prospects for all participating researchers. More than 80 publications constitute an important contribution to the field of research. In their publications, EXACT researchers analysed topical issues such as the EU’s external action vis-à-vis its neighbourhood (e.g. Libya, Ukraine, Balkan), the Arctic, Central Asia, Latin America, Russia, and the US, as well as institutional and legal developments (in particular concerning the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service) and the question of coherence of EU external action within different external policies. In addition to the articles already published in journals, policy briefs and newspapers, the research conducted in the framework of EXACT will become manifest in the dissertation theses of the participating researchers, generally expected to be finalised in 2014.
As regards the implementation of the training project all scheduled deliverables as well as manifold additional activities could be implemented. The course of events can be structured into four project phases:
(1) In the first 9 months between 01/2010 and the end of 09/2010 the consortium implemented Work Package (WP) I which dealt with the preparation of the training programme and the recruitment of the researchers. The Supervisory Board (SVB) decided on a Recruitment Strategy, published the vacancies via EURAXESS and launched a worldwide Call for Application in 10/2009 resulting in a turnout of 98 applications. On the basis of a shortlist the consortium agreed on the selection of 12 researchers. A modification of the Recruitment and Secondment Plan was agreed by REA and the consortium when one researcher resigned in 05/2011 and a new fellow was selected in 08/2011. As regards the preparation of the following training phases the Joint Agenda for Training and Research was approved and the EXACT universities agreed on memoranda for joint Ph.D. degree structures and individual memoranda for each researcher specifying the conditions for their Ph.D. studies. By doing so the EXACT consortium put in place the necessary structures for both the implementation of the training phases and the framework for the double PhD programme.
(2) The next 5 months from 10/2010 until the end of 02/2011 realised academic training elements (WP II) at the University of Cologne by organising conferences, seminars and study trips, and offering six academic training courses. The Career Development Plans and research proposals were reviewed in the framework of the EXACT Initial Conference, bringing together ESR and representatives from all partners, visiting scientists, politicians, and media. In the course of this training phase training training excursions took place, inter alia to the partner universities in Edinburgh and Prague. The implemented Ph.D. courses were acknowledged by all EXACT universities as elements of the local Ph.D. studies; the expertise within the network was complemented by four visiting scientists.
(3) From 03/2011 to 03/2012 the consortium implemented the professional training phase (WP III) that allowed the researchers to benefit from training and work experience at different think tanks. The researchers joined their first think tanks in line with the secondment plan and changed to the next think tank in 11/2011. This system allowed every researcher to take up residence in Brussels for at least 5 months, an arrangement which was of particular value for the empirical part of the individual studies. Examples for the individual activities are doing interviews, publishing policy briefs, journal articles and book reviews, lecturing, or presenting at conferences. As a network-wide activity of the professional training phase, the 14-day intensive Network Seminar on Professional Skills took place in Brussels in 10/2011 integrating the expertise of one visiting scientist and numerous external researchers. The seminar comprised training in professional skills such as research communication, writing policy briefs, applying for research funding, project management and career development.
(4) Finally, from 4/2012 to 12/2013 the researchers – with the exception of a later recruited fellow who focused on professional training – took up the intensified academic training (WP IV) at their respective lead university. The Work Package was originally scheduled to end in 09/2013 but was prolonged following the approval by REA. In this training stage, most researchers took up positions at the partner universities to gather academic experience by being integrated into teaching and research activities conducted by the chairs of the supervisors. A significant step towards the finalisation of the Ph.D. projects of the fellows could be taken in this period, particularly fostered during the Network Seminar on Academic Research Skills in 9/2012. The seminar was a fruitful mix of academic lecturing, study time and research discussions supported by two visiting scientists, various external speakers and participants. Following the good results of the network seminar, EXACT set up – in addition to the original work programme – a series of Ph.D. intervision workshops to provide a close and regular supervision structure throughout the final training phase. The positive results of these endeavours were demonstrated and exhibited at the Final Conference which took place in Brussels from 10 – 12 July 2013. With two public keynote speeches, a poster exhibition, the presentations of the fellows as well as a roundtable discussion on the future of EU Ph.D. studies the event was valuable in terms of academic output, but also in view of the dissemination of EXACT’s project results.
Apart from the three phases of training implemented, the EXACT consortium dealt with disseminative(WP V) and management tasks (WP VI). A Dissemination Strategy was adopted in order to identify content, target groups and means of the ITN’s activities. The website www.exact-training.net was launched and continuously updated since 10/2009. Six issues of the newsletters and an information brochure were published. As regards management tasks, EXACT has implemented regular meetings of the supervisory board and its sub-boards, partly held in conjunction with the EXACT Advisory Board. The consortium has also undertaken major efforts in terms of sustainability. Lessons learned were exchanged with partners of the ITN INCOOP and the ERASMUS multilateral Ph.D. curriculum development programme PEGASUS. The evaluations of the training activities and the feedback sessions with the fellows have been documented to draw further lessons for future endeavours of a similar kind. Additionally, the EXACT Fellows will remain in contact with the Think Tanks and Universities via a common mailing list - exact-fellows@googlegroups.com.
All in all, following the assessment of the external Advisory Board, the EXACT programme can be regarded as a great opportunity for the participating early and experienced researchers in a threefold way. Firstly, the fellows had a unique opportunity to study at excellent universities in Europe and to receive additional input from eight external Visiting Scientists. Secondly, the opportunity to do different placements at excellent think tanks provided them with the necessary professional know-how. Thus, the fellows had the possibility to work at the intersection of academic and policy world and to establish and expand their international academic and professional network. Thirdly, the fellows developed networking skills and contributed further to the establishment of a network of three universities and six think tanks. Furthermore, EXACT contributed to the European Research Area by (1) organising a new research framework which made it possible to have joint teaching structures resulting in a co-tutelle, and (2) producing research in new research areas to cover the demand for external advice. The programme on the whole served the European cause, contributed to a European spirit of research, to a common understanding of European research practices, and a European view on Foreign Policy. In so far, the programme was in itself a contribution to the emergence of a European Foreign Policy, and the PhD theses will certainly constitute an important input into the External Action Service.
Further information on the full programme can be found online: www.exact-training.net
EXACT has proven to be an extremely successful endeavour. Three years of training and research (470.5 person months in total) have resulted in a very positive development of academic and professional skills and strongly improved career prospects for all participating researchers. More than 80 publications constitute an important contribution to the field of research. In their publications, EXACT researchers analysed topical issues such as the EU’s external action vis-à-vis its neighbourhood (e.g. Libya, Ukraine, Balkan), the Arctic, Central Asia, Latin America, Russia, and the US, as well as institutional and legal developments (in particular concerning the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European External Action Service) and the question of coherence of EU external action within different external policies. In addition to the articles already published in journals, policy briefs and newspapers, the research conducted in the framework of EXACT will become manifest in the dissertation theses of the participating researchers, generally expected to be finalised in 2014.
As regards the implementation of the training project all scheduled deliverables as well as manifold additional activities could be implemented. The course of events can be structured into four project phases:
(1) In the first 9 months between 01/2010 and the end of 09/2010 the consortium implemented Work Package (WP) I which dealt with the preparation of the training programme and the recruitment of the researchers. The Supervisory Board (SVB) decided on a Recruitment Strategy, published the vacancies via EURAXESS and launched a worldwide Call for Application in 10/2009 resulting in a turnout of 98 applications. On the basis of a shortlist the consortium agreed on the selection of 12 researchers. A modification of the Recruitment and Secondment Plan was agreed by REA and the consortium when one researcher resigned in 05/2011 and a new fellow was selected in 08/2011. As regards the preparation of the following training phases the Joint Agenda for Training and Research was approved and the EXACT universities agreed on memoranda for joint Ph.D. degree structures and individual memoranda for each researcher specifying the conditions for their Ph.D. studies. By doing so the EXACT consortium put in place the necessary structures for both the implementation of the training phases and the framework for the double PhD programme.
(2) The next 5 months from 10/2010 until the end of 02/2011 realised academic training elements (WP II) at the University of Cologne by organising conferences, seminars and study trips, and offering six academic training courses. The Career Development Plans and research proposals were reviewed in the framework of the EXACT Initial Conference, bringing together ESR and representatives from all partners, visiting scientists, politicians, and media. In the course of this training phase training training excursions took place, inter alia to the partner universities in Edinburgh and Prague. The implemented Ph.D. courses were acknowledged by all EXACT universities as elements of the local Ph.D. studies; the expertise within the network was complemented by four visiting scientists.
(3) From 03/2011 to 03/2012 the consortium implemented the professional training phase (WP III) that allowed the researchers to benefit from training and work experience at different think tanks. The researchers joined their first think tanks in line with the secondment plan and changed to the next think tank in 11/2011. This system allowed every researcher to take up residence in Brussels for at least 5 months, an arrangement which was of particular value for the empirical part of the individual studies. Examples for the individual activities are doing interviews, publishing policy briefs, journal articles and book reviews, lecturing, or presenting at conferences. As a network-wide activity of the professional training phase, the 14-day intensive Network Seminar on Professional Skills took place in Brussels in 10/2011 integrating the expertise of one visiting scientist and numerous external researchers. The seminar comprised training in professional skills such as research communication, writing policy briefs, applying for research funding, project management and career development.
(4) Finally, from 4/2012 to 12/2013 the researchers – with the exception of a later recruited fellow who focused on professional training – took up the intensified academic training (WP IV) at their respective lead university. The Work Package was originally scheduled to end in 09/2013 but was prolonged following the approval by REA. In this training stage, most researchers took up positions at the partner universities to gather academic experience by being integrated into teaching and research activities conducted by the chairs of the supervisors. A significant step towards the finalisation of the Ph.D. projects of the fellows could be taken in this period, particularly fostered during the Network Seminar on Academic Research Skills in 9/2012. The seminar was a fruitful mix of academic lecturing, study time and research discussions supported by two visiting scientists, various external speakers and participants. Following the good results of the network seminar, EXACT set up – in addition to the original work programme – a series of Ph.D. intervision workshops to provide a close and regular supervision structure throughout the final training phase. The positive results of these endeavours were demonstrated and exhibited at the Final Conference which took place in Brussels from 10 – 12 July 2013. With two public keynote speeches, a poster exhibition, the presentations of the fellows as well as a roundtable discussion on the future of EU Ph.D. studies the event was valuable in terms of academic output, but also in view of the dissemination of EXACT’s project results.
Apart from the three phases of training implemented, the EXACT consortium dealt with disseminative(WP V) and management tasks (WP VI). A Dissemination Strategy was adopted in order to identify content, target groups and means of the ITN’s activities. The website www.exact-training.net was launched and continuously updated since 10/2009. Six issues of the newsletters and an information brochure were published. As regards management tasks, EXACT has implemented regular meetings of the supervisory board and its sub-boards, partly held in conjunction with the EXACT Advisory Board. The consortium has also undertaken major efforts in terms of sustainability. Lessons learned were exchanged with partners of the ITN INCOOP and the ERASMUS multilateral Ph.D. curriculum development programme PEGASUS. The evaluations of the training activities and the feedback sessions with the fellows have been documented to draw further lessons for future endeavours of a similar kind. Additionally, the EXACT Fellows will remain in contact with the Think Tanks and Universities via a common mailing list - exact-fellows@googlegroups.com.
All in all, following the assessment of the external Advisory Board, the EXACT programme can be regarded as a great opportunity for the participating early and experienced researchers in a threefold way. Firstly, the fellows had a unique opportunity to study at excellent universities in Europe and to receive additional input from eight external Visiting Scientists. Secondly, the opportunity to do different placements at excellent think tanks provided them with the necessary professional know-how. Thus, the fellows had the possibility to work at the intersection of academic and policy world and to establish and expand their international academic and professional network. Thirdly, the fellows developed networking skills and contributed further to the establishment of a network of three universities and six think tanks. Furthermore, EXACT contributed to the European Research Area by (1) organising a new research framework which made it possible to have joint teaching structures resulting in a co-tutelle, and (2) producing research in new research areas to cover the demand for external advice. The programme on the whole served the European cause, contributed to a European spirit of research, to a common understanding of European research practices, and a European view on Foreign Policy. In so far, the programme was in itself a contribution to the emergence of a European Foreign Policy, and the PhD theses will certainly constitute an important input into the External Action Service.
Further information on the full programme can be found online: www.exact-training.net