How well do European institutions work together? An EU training programme for young researchers is finding out.
The EU-funded project 'Dynamics of institutional cooperation in the European Union' (INCOOP) is a consortium of universities and professional organisations aiming to study the origins and effectiveness of European institutions. The project focuses on the cooperative forms of decision and policymaking within the EU, and how these affect institutional change.
Recruiting mostly young researchers for the particular field of study, INCOOP provides career assistance via supplemental training programmes. These include academic modules such as research methods for social scientists, modes of European governance, and 'Inter-institutional cooperation in EU external relations and across pillars'. Furthermore, INCOOP provides skill-based training, including working in the EU multi-level system, featuring CV- and letter-writing skills, and the practicalities of policymaking.
Since the project began in 2010, all nodes but one successfully recruited one or two early-stage researchers (ESRs) or experienced researchers (ERs). All recruited researchers were expected to submit research proposals and present initial theoretical and methodological papers at conferences, followed by thesis chapters according to an agreed time frame. The project has accomplished this goal by allowing researchers to incorporate the separate papers into their research proposals. Papers have been presented at conferences, and the researchers received scientific feedback plus input as part of an academic writing workshop.
The project's training programme has been successfully completed, though with slight amendment to the planned dates and locations. Skill sets not originally identified in the programme, such as negotiation and 'how to get published', were added based on demand from researchers.
INCOOP efforts should result in a better understanding of how European organisations function, as well as provide young researchers more able to conduct research within this context.
Related link:
http://cordis.europa.eu