Training program overview

The aim of the training program is to provide 10 ESRs with interdisciplinary and intersectoral expertise at the nexus of mobility and urbanization in rural-urban regions, analyzing and improving environmental and social aspects on the level of the network (macro) and locality (micro). The training offers different schools of thought in theoretical and methodological approaches to prepare ESRs for a wide range of career options.

The training program is centered around cutting-edge ESR research projects executed by the recruited ESRs across different institutions. By focusing on the individual project, with supervisors from different institutions, the ESRs will develop innovative scientific skills. Secondments at the institute of the co-supervisor, in collaboration with relevant partner institutions, guarantee an in-depth engagement with different disciplines, sectors as well as cases and European countries. Through secondments, the ESRs will be introduced to different environments and at the same time play an active, integrating role in the exchange between partners.

In addition, the ESRs will follow scientific and transferable skills courses, both at a local and network level, ensuring cutting-edge research as well as a high-level of employability. Main network-wide training guarantees a coherent network at the forefront of research and training of highly skilled young researchers for leading positions in the knowledge industry. Moreover, intensive project work – the ‘TOD Studios’ – provides intensive, hands-on training weeks in diverse rural-urban contexts, in close collaboration with different disciplines and sectors. More specifically, the TOD Studios approach a place-based complex problem as a collective endeavor, mobilizing a wide-ranging expertise integrated by a specific spatial context and specific socio-ecological concerns to the local community. The ‘TOD Talks’ digital platform extends the network-wide events in time as it provides a continuous web-based interactive learning platform for the ESRs as well as extends the network to professionals and the broader public. Intersectoral, international and interdisciplinary training in all aspects of the program is the norm.