On August 6-7, 2025, a key event for the European academic community – the annual Eurodoc 2025 Conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, hosted at the IT University of Copenhagen (ITU). The National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” was represented at the event by its International Relations Coordinator, Eurodoc’s External Communications Coordinator, Anna Pavelieva, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor at the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation.
Eurodoc (The European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers) is a leading federation that unites 26 national associations of early-career researchers from 24 European countries. The organisation serves as a powerful voice for doctoral candidates and researchers at the European level, promoting the improvement of their working conditions, professional development, and social well-being. The annual conference provides a platform for dialogue among early-career researchers, university representatives, policymakers, and non-governmental organisations.
This year's conference program was rich and multifaceted. Participants discussed a wide range of issues, paying special attention to the mental health crisis in academia. For instance, the “PhD Well” study from Poland presented striking data: 91.1% of doctoral candidates experience symptoms of decreased well-being due to burnout, deadline pressure, and financial instability. This topic was further elaborated upon by keynote speaker Sara Pilia, who spoke about precarity and unstable working conditions that limit early-career researchers' access to the European Research Area.
Significant attention was also given to identifying and overcoming systemic barriers to inclusion. Delegates from Norway, Italy, and Denmark shared their experiences in addressing challenges related to language access, ensuring gender equality in STEM fields, and the diagnosis of neurodivergence. In contrast to these challenges, successful case studies were also presented, such as the Hungarian DOSZ Ambassador programme, which promotes the integration of international researchers, and initiatives from Danish universities aimed at strengthening PhD communities.
Special focus was placed on the practical workshop “Towards Mental Health and Healthy Work Environments”. During the workshop, participants exchanged effective practices and developed tools for creating a supportive atmosphere in universities, which is highly relevant given the challenges faced by Ukrainian education and science.
Participation in a conference of this level is an essential step for the integration of Poltava Polytechnic into the European educational and research space. The experience gained and the contacts established will contribute to the implementation of the best European practices in supporting early-career researchers, developing an inclusive environment, and strengthening international partnerships. The university continues to follow its strategy of openness and cooperation, creating conditions where every student and researcher can feel valued and realise their potential.
We want to remind you that Poltava Polytechnic faculty can participate in academic mobility and internship programs. At the same time, students can study abroad through Erasmus+ credit academic mobility grant programs for a semester or a full academic year at leading universities in Austria, Greenland, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information on current internship, teaching, and academic mobility programs abroad, please get in touch with the International Relations Office (room 213-C, interoffice@nupp.edu.ua) or the Coordinator of International Activities of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” – Anna Pavelieva, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation (email: kunsite.zi@gmail.com, phone: +38-(095)-91-08-192).
Media Centre of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
