(WG) emphasises raising awareness, creating a safe forum for exchange, and drafting a policy document on equitable opportunities in academia. In 2025/2026 we will focus on providing early-career researchers with concrete strategies, examples, and tools they can use in their daily academic and professional lives.

While sustainable and equitable research cultures remain our guiding principles, this year we aim to move from discussion to application. Our activities will highlight accessible, practice-oriented approaches that early-career researchers (ECRs), institutions, and communities can adopt to foster equity and sustainability.

The WG therefore focuses on:

• Collecting and sharing practical tips and examples of how ECRs can navigate barriers to equitable opportunities, including everyday strategies, institutional pathways, and personal resilience tools.
• Identifying and showcasing best practices from institutions and countries that can be replicated or adapted elsewhere.
• Producing short, accessible resources (e.g., guides, checklists, infographics, webinars) that ECRs can use to advocate for themselves and their peers.
• Strengthening peer-to-peer learning by encouraging ECRs to exchange concrete experiences and solutions in a safe and supportive space.
• Exploring the implementation of the policy document drafted in 2024/2025, ensuring that Eurodoc’s positions are translated into actionable guidance for researchers and institutions alike.

General goals of the WG for 2025/2026:

• Empowering early-career researchers with practical tools to recognise and address inequities in academia.
• Bridging the gap between policy-level discussions and day-to-day practices in research environments.
• Supporting ECRs in advocating for equitable opportunities within their institutions and communities.
• Continuing to provide an open forum for those interested in working on equitable opportunities, with the option to contribute at any level of engagement.

The current activities of the working group will include:

• Raising awareness among early career researchers of equitable opportunities.
• Creating a forum and safe space for talking about challenges in accessing equitable opportunities.
• Collecting and disseminating best practices from different institutions and contexts.
• Supporting the dissemination and application of the Eurodoc policy document.

Any ECR interested in practical ways to create a more equitable and sustainable academic environment is welcome to join the Equitable Opportunities and Sustainable Research Cultures Working Group. Participation is flexible and does not require any fixed commitment between meetings.

The working groups of Eurodoc are open for early-career researchers all around Europe. ECRs affiliated with one of the national associations are especially welcome to join.

If you wish to be added to the email lists for the working group, please sign up through this link.

For more information, contact the coordinators of the working group: Norbert Bencze (norbert.bencze [at] eurodoc.net), Margaux Introna (margaux.introna [at] eurodoc.net)