UNIC PhD student visits mentor at Örebro University, Sweden, as part of the NEOLAiA Early Stage Researcher Mentorship Programme

The NEOLAiA Early Stage Researcher (ESR) Mentorship Programme brings together motivated young researchers and experienced academic mentors across the NEOLAiA university alliance to support structured career development, international networking, and professional growth within and beyond academia. The programme aims to support ESRs in various aspects of career development, both within academia and beyond. Each mentee is assigned a mentor from another NEOLAiA university, or from an associated partner.

The following key objectives are included in the programme:

  1. Enhance participants’ networking skills.
  2. Provide expert guidance on career development within and outside academia.

These objectives can be further broken down into specific focus areas:

  • Career Guidance: Advice on career development, research techniques, and professional growth.
  • Networking Opportunities: Facilitating introductions to relevant contacts and networks.
  • Publication and Presentation Support: Assistance with publishing papers and preparing presentations.
  • Skill Development: Training on soft skills such as communication, time management, and teamwork.
  • Personalised Goals: Setting individualised development plans to ensure tailored objectives.
  • Psychosocial Support: Offering emotional support to help mentees balance professional and personal life.

The ESR Mentorship Programme commenced on 1 January 2025 and will conclude on 30 June 2026.

During the programme, mentees attended a series of mandatory online workshops and were later matched with a mentor. Following this, mentor-mentee meetings were held online. At the end of the programme, the mentee took part in a mobility experience, funded by the NEOLAiA project, whereby they had the opportunity to visit their mentor. Upon completion of the programme, the participant will be awarded a certificate.

Through a selective application process, the University of Nicosia selected Ms Anna Karapanou, a PhD student in the Department of Languages and Literature, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, to take part. Anna travelled to visit her mentor, Dr Andreas Bergh, at Örebro University in Sweden, from 13 to 18 April 2026.

Reflecting on her experience, Anna shared “As part of my participation in the NEOLAiA project, I visited Örebro University. A key highlight of my visit was meeting my mentor, Dr Andreas Bergh, and spending time with his research team. Our discussions gave me a clearer sense of their approach to research and collaboration. I found it especially valuable to exchange ideas in such an open and supportive academic environment.

I also had the opportunity to attend a PhD viva, which was a very insightful experience. Observing the process first-hand helped me better understand the expectations and challenges of defending a PhD, and it gave me a useful point of reference for my own academic journey. More importantly, I appreciated the opportunity to share perspectives, discuss common challenges, and build connections within the NEOLAiA network. Overall, this visit was a rewarding experience for me both academically and personally. It helped me reflect on my own research path, gain confidence, and feel more connected to a wider academic community”.