Eurodoc Mission and Vision Statement

In 2001, several members of national organisations for ECRs met at a conference in Uppsala, Sweden, organized during the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union. They recognized the urgent need to establish a European-wide organisation for ECRs as their views were largely absent from policy debates at the European level where they could contribute to developing higher education and science.

Eurodoc was subsequently founded in Girona, Spain on 2 February 2002 and has since provided a platform for national associations representing ECRs across European countries to raise their collective voice and ensure their professional status^[1] by sharing practices and advice across borders. We believe that by representing and consolidating the community of ECRs in Europe, we can achieve improved working conditions, sustained career advancement and employee status for all ECRs. With a healthy research environment, as well as fair and equitable treatment, ECRs will be motivated and better equipped to generate new knowledge and provide innovative solutions to societal problems.

However, strong discrepancies still exist between how ECRs are treated across Europe and in different disciplines. Many are still not fully recognised as professional workers and do not have appropriate working conditions. The work of ECRs should be compensated with adequate funding, social provisions and mobility rights. Additionally, we have identified key issues for ECRs that must be addressed, including the need for proper career development (especially for the non-academic labor market), implementing Open Science (knowing what it reflects and how it should be practiced) and raising mental health concerns.

Formal education and training must be standard for ECRs, to equip them with a broad range of skills for professional development, employability, social engagement and active citizenship. This pursuit requires a new and innovative approach that allows ECRs to develop various transferable skills to ultimately become more effective in their research, as well as an extensive range of competencies for their future lives and careers.

Eurodoc objectives according our Statute:

• Represent doctoral candidates and junior researchers at European level in matters of their education, research and professional development.
• Advance the quality of doctoral programmes and the standards of research activity in Europe.
• Promote the circulation of information on issues regarding ECRs and organize events.
• Participate in debates, and assist in the elaboration of policies about Higher Education and Research in Europe.
• Establish and promote cooperation between national associations representing doctoral candidates and junior researchers within Europe.

• We contribute to debates and inform policy at the European level through networking, partnership and representation around the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and European Research Area (ERA).
• We help develop policy and advocate for ECRs at the European and national level alongside key stakeholders and partners.
• We provide a platform for national associations across European countries, where our members can collaborate and exchange information on particular issues.
• We collect information about the situation in various countries and facilitate bilateral sharing of this information between national associations and European stakeholders.
• We organize events and working groups, where ECRs can discuss particular issues or share best practices.
• We communicate actively through social media channels and publish monthly newsletters.