Action plans for Young Researchers at faculties and Doctoral Schools | Gdańsk University of Technology

In the period July - September 2022, a survey was conducted among young researchers examining barriers to their development at the Gdańsk Tech. 42% of respondents answered the survey. Researchers identified the problems they face in various areas of functioning at Gdańsk Tech. The survey report is available after logging in to Strefa Pracownika (Employee Zone).

The results of the survey and the respondents' comments have become an element initiating the dialogue between young researchers and the authorities of Gdańsk Tech, faculties and Doctoral Schools. In response to some needs, university-wide solutions have been proposed, which have been included in the HR4R Strategy implementation plan for 2022–2025. Individual Faculties and Doctoral Schools have planned the first corrective and improvement activities on the basis of the defined barriers. Current proposals include recommendations to be implemented in a one-year time horizon until June 2024. Some of them have already been implemented, others are in progress, and others are scheduled to be implemented.

Among the implemented and planned activities were:

• Creation of social rooms, feeding space, room for young parents;
• New work spaces for PhD students and young researchers;
• Didactic discounts, reduction of fluctuations in teaching hours, development of good practices for entrusting classes;
• Increasing the amount allocated to research projects of young researchers, research grants, bonuses, allowances, additional scholarships;
• Support for foreign mobility for doctoral students;
• Training and information meetings in the field of public procurement, grant applications, writing articles, soft skills, communication, as well as counteracting mobbing, etc.;
• Consultations and assistance with projects;
• Scientific debates, Speed Dating, conferences, series of meetings with young researchers, meetings with candidates, PhD students and PhD supervisors, meetings initiating cooperation with the industry;
• Preparation of rules for making equipment and infrastructure available at the Faculty of Chemistry;
• Creating or streamlining procedures, improving decision-making paths, developing guidelines, recommendations and prospectuses; undertaking information activities, creating a list of good practices in the field of support for doctoral students and young researchers, improving the organization of applications.