Krist\u00e4 Lepp\u00e4nen’s and Mikko Lampinen’s blog text on an overview of what traveling has offered them as doctoral researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SusTra doctoral researchers of our research group, Krista Lepp\u00e4nen and Mikko Lampinen have both started their second year working on their doctoral dissertations this autumn. For both of them the first year included, alongside their dissertation work, a great deal of travel within Finland, but especially abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What have we been up to?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Krista\u2019s first autumn as a PhD researcher included a visit to Brussels to attend EDEN Doctoral Seminar on Sustainability Accounting<\/strong>, and later in the spring 2nd EIASM Interdisciplinary Workshop on Sustainability and ESG Dynamics<\/strong> in Parma, both of which provided a needed deep dive into academic world of accounting. Later, Krista\u2019s conference summer included visits at European Group for Organization Studies (EGOS) Colloquium<\/strong> in Athens, and Academy of Management (AOM) annual meeting<\/strong> in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the spring, Mikko travelled twice to Sweden, visiting Gothenburg and \u00c5re, where he completed two one-week intensive courses, the 1st STRN PhD School \u2013 Systems, Theories, Policies and Practices: An Introductory PhD Course in Sustainability Transitions Research<\/strong> and Business Networks and Ecosystems for Sustainable Business<\/strong>. During the summer, Mikko attended the EURAM \u2013 European Academy of Management<\/strong> conference in Florence, where he presented his ongoing research. This autumn, Mikko headed to Hungary for a research visit at the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH)<\/strong>, gaining insights into a key sustainability actor in Hungarian business life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should doctoral researchers travel, especially early on?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In our cases, we both came to a doctoral position straight from finishing our master\u2019s degrees, which made the academic world and all its possibilities unfamiliar and new. As doing a PhD is essentially reading, writing, and thinking, getting out of your own head is necessary at times. We have both found that traveling abroad, in particular, opens doors to unique opportunities and experiences that we consider essential cornerstones in our PhD journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presenting and language skills<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research work tends to include lots of presentations and speaking for an audience. After going through years of Teams classes and presentations during Covid times, stepping up to a podium and giving a lecture or presentation to a live audience can be intimidating. But the only way to get past that feeling is to get used to it through exposure. International conferences add an extra layer of challenge, but they also provide a deep dive that can really boost your confidence as a presenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, these experiences are highly beneficial for your English language skills, not only in formal presentations, but especially in informal discussions with international colleagues. These conversations are not something we encounter every day in Finland, and they help you develop fluency and confidence in academic dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Networking and developing ideas<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When trips are well planned to destinations and occasions that support your work and research, you end up finding people who are likeminded and understand your work. Networking is central to international courses and conferences and gives you possibilities to discuss your ideas outside your head and your paper. It gives new perspectives on researching your area of interest and beyond it. And when presenting your work, the feedback is usually highly valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Networking also creates connections that can benefit your research and even your future career. You might meet potential collaborators, mentors, or people who can open doors to new projects. Also one thing you start to notice when you attend major events in your research field is that you might meet the researchers whose work you\u2019ve read and even admire. That is a big reality check: you are part of this researcher community, built on real people and not just names on paper. By doing your research, you contribute to that community and its ongoing discussions. You don\u2019t get that same realization by sitting at your computer, where names stay as just names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional perks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the academic learning and networking opportunities, these trips often include small moments of free time, giving you a chance to experience local culture and cuisine. Whether it\u2019s tasting authentic Italian pasta in Parma, enjoying Greek hospitality in Athens, or exploring Hungarian traditions in Budapest, these cultural encounters enrich the experience and make the journey memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Krist\u00e4 Lepp\u00e4nen (krista.leppanen@uef.fi) & Mikko Lampinen (mikko.lampinen@uef.fi)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Krist\u00e4 Lepp\u00e4nen’s and Mikko Lampinen’s blog text on an overview of what traveling has offered them as doctoral researchers. The SusTra doctoral researchers of our research group, Krista Lepp\u00e4nen and Mikko Lampinen have both started their second year working on their doctoral dissertations this autumn. For both of them the first year included, alongside their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":910,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blogs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n