The Universidade da Coruña (UDC) will host the first EMERGE Career Days from 22 to 26 June 2026, bringing together students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, employers, public organisations, civil society representatives, and academic partners from across the EMERGE European University Alliance.
Taking place on the Campus de Elviña and at the historic Pazo de Mariñán, the five-day event will provide a unique platform for early-career researchers to present their work, strengthen professional skills, expand their networks, and engage directly with potential employers and stakeholders from across Europe.
The Career Days form part of EMERGE’s commitment to strengthening employability, fostering knowledge co-creation, and building stronger links between higher education, research, industry, government, and civil society. The initiative is designed to support students and researchers in developing transversal skills, exploring career opportunities, and contributing to the sustainable development of Europe’s regions and communities.
The programme will open with a welcome from UDC Rector Ricardo Cao Abad, followed by presentations introducing participants to key dimensions of the Alliance. Pablo Vellando, leader of EMERGE Work Package 6 on Research and Knowledge Co-Creation, will present the Alliance’s research strategy, while Anne Goarzin, leader of Work Package 7, will introduce EMERGE’s plurilingual language policy. Janka Táborecká, leader of Work Package 2, will highlight the links between the Alliance’s Open Days and Career Days initiatives.
During the first two days, participants will attend workshops focused on career development, project management, research funding, and professional skills. Sessions will be delivered by experts from UDC’s International Projects Office, including Dr Elena Solera and Dr Andrea Ciambra. Participants will also visit four of UDC’s leading research centres, CITEEC, ESCI, CITIC and CICA, gaining first-hand insight into the research infrastructure and innovation ecosystem that support knowledge creation and regional development in Galicia.
A central component of the programme will be the research presentation sessions at the Pazo de Mariñán. Researchers will present their work within EMERGE’s four thematic clusters: Inclusion and Solidarity, Sustainability and Digital Transition, Resilience and Wellbeing, and Plurilingualism and Multiculturalism. These sessions will encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and provide opportunities for participants to exchange ideas with peers, academics, and external stakeholders.
The final days will focus on employability and professional engagement. Representatives from industry, public authorities, civil society organisations, and higher education institutions will introduce their organisations, recruitment practices, and career opportunities. Structured networking sessions, professional counselling, and one-to-one interviews will allow participants to discuss career pathways and establish valuable professional connections.
As a founding member of EMERGE and leader of Work Package 6, UDC plays a central role in advancing the Alliance’s vision for a collaborative European Research Campus. Established in 1989 and operating across the campuses of A Coruña and Ferrol, UDC combines excellence in research, education, social engagement, entrepreneurship, internationalisation, and sustainable development. These priorities closely align with the values of EMERGE and its commitment to inclusion, resilience, sustainability, and solidarity.
The EMERGE Career Days are a flagship activity of the EMERGE Research Campus and represent an important step in strengthening collaboration between researchers, employers, institutions, and communities across the Alliance. By bringing together participants from different disciplines, countries, and sectors, the initiative aims to create new opportunities for professional development, knowledge exchange, and regional impact across Europe.