7 minute read

Interview: Dr. Susanne Rentzow-Vasu

Euraxess Links ASEAN

-RXIVZMI[[MXL Dr. Susanne Rentzow-Vasu -RXIVZMI[IHF] .YPMERE%VMJČR

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Dr Susanne Rentzow-Vasu is the Regional Representative for the EURAXESS Links ASEAN network, a pan-European network that promotes research cooperation between Europe and Southeast Asia. She also runs her own consultancy providing political analyses and risk assessments as well as project management services to her clients. She has previously headed the Information Centre Singapore of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as its Director from 2008 to 2012.

7YWERRIEPWSLIPHXLITSWXSJ7IRMSV4SPMG]3JČGIV[MXLXLI)9(IPIgation to Singapore. She holds a Master’s degree in European Union Studies from the University of Newcastle (UK) and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Wales Aberystwyth (UK).

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Background

What is Euraxess and what does it offer?

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What is the motivation behind Euraxess?

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8LI )YVSTIER 9RMSR LEW PSRK VIGSKRMWIH XLI MQportance of international cooperation in working towards a more sustainable and competitive society ERHIGSRSQ]&IKMRRMRKMRXLI)YVSTIER'SQmission has already taken steps in this direction by GVIEXMRKXLI)YVSTIER6IWIEVGL%VIE )6% [LMGLMW JSYRHIHYTSRXLIQSFMPMX]SJVIWIEVGLIVW2SRIXLIPIWW XLI )YVSTIER9RMSR VIQEMRWJYPP] E[EVI XLEX ensuring that researchers are free to move within )YVSTI MW RSX WYJČGMIRX SR MXW S[R TVSZMHMRK VIsearchers with the opportunity to interact and learn from their counterparts in other countries needs to be viewed within a global context for all partners to SFXEMR JYPP EHZERXEKI SJ XLI FIRIČXW EVMWMRK JVSQ WYGLI\GLERKIW)96%<)77é6IWIEVGLIVWMR1SXMSR MWHIHMGEXIHXSEWWMWXMRK)YVSTIERERHRSR)YVSTIan researchers wishing to pursue research careers MR)YVSTISV[SVOMRK[MXLTEVXRIVWMR)YVSTI

;LEXČIPHWSJVIWIEVGLHSIW)YVE\IWW.SFW provide information and opportunities for?

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Is Euraxess Jobs aimed for only researchers with postgraduate degrees and those thinking of starting one?

)96%<)77 .SFW PMWXW STTSVXYRMXMIW JSV FSXL VIsearchers who are just starting out their careers i.e. 1EWXIVW7XYHIRXWERHXLSWI[MXLQER]]IEVWSJVIWIEVGLI\TIVMIRGI'YVVIRXP] EPQSWX TYFPMG and private research organisations and companies are publishing their job and funding opportunities SRXLI)96%<)77.SFTSVXEP

;LEXEVIXLIFIRIČXWSJVIWIEVGLIVWYWMRK)YVE\- IWWVEXLIVXLERMRHITIRHIRXP]ČRHMRKTSWMXMSRW and funding, and travelling to Europe?

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Application procedures, eligibility and selection criteria

Are there any criteria for being able to use Euraxess’ services? i.e. do I have to be a citizen of an Euraxess Link country to receive Euraxess’ aid and utilize the opportunities provided?

2SEPP)96%<)77WIVZMGIWEVISTIRXSER]VIWIEVGLIV[LSMWOIIRXSTYVWYIEVIWIEVGLGEVIIVMR)YVSTI All services are free of charge.

I don’t speak English or other common European languages very well. Will Euraxess be able to help me?

1SWX STTSVXYRMXMIW SJJIVIH MR )YVSTI HS VIUYMVI E KSSH GSQQERH SJ XLI )RKPMWL PERKYEKI [LMGL é luckily for my colleague Simon Grimley, who is the current regional representative based in Bangkok, ERH-éMWVIEPP]RSXELYVHPIXSXLIVIWIEVGLGSQQYRMXMIW EGVSWW %7)%2 )RKPMWL [SYPH EPWS FI RIGIWWEV]XSGSQQYRMGEXI[MXLXLIWXEJJEXXLI)96%<)77 GIRXVIWMRXLIZEVMSYW)YVSTIERGSYRXVMIW,S[IZIV XLI)96%<)770MROWSJČGIVWEVIE[IPPXVEMRIHXIEQ with most speaking the national language of their host country, for example our colleagues in Brazil, 'LMREERH.ETEREVIčYIRXMR4SVXYKYIWI1ERHEVMR ERH.ETERIWIVIWTIGXMZIP]

(V.MFF]JVSQ&MSXIG8LEMPERH[MRRMRKXLIMREYKYVEP )96%<)77 7GMIRGI 7PEQ %7)%2 MR 7MRKETSVI MR  7LI went on to secure a Franco-Thai research fellowship to conduct research at Institut Pasteur in Paris.

As a researcher who is thinking of applying or is in the process of applying for a fellowship or position in Europe, at what stage of my application and move to Europe should I start getting in touch with Euraxess? How do I do so?

1] EHZMGI[SYPH FI XS KIX MR XSYGL SRGI ]SY LEZI EWIXSJTVIGMWIUYIWXMSRWXLEX]SYRIIHEWWMWXERGI with. For example, if you have a job offer and you would like to get help with the visa application or [MXLČRHMRKLSYWMRKSVGLMPHGEVIMRXLIRI[PSGEXMSR 8LI QSVI TVIGMWI ]SY EVI [MXL ]SYV UYIWXMSRW XLI IEWMIVMX[MPPFIJSVXLI)96%<)77WXEJJXSEWWMWX]SY

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What European countries can researchers aim to go to? Does Euraxess have stronger links or ties to certain countries?

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How can Euraxess benefit researchers

How will Euraxess help me with my move to a European country?

'YVVIRXP] XLIVI EVI SZIV  TISTPI [SVOMRK EX QSVI XLER)96%<)77GIRXVIWMR)YVSTIER countries. They assist researchers and their families in all matters relating to their professional and daily life. This includes information on immigration and legal issues, social security, health and taxes, everyday life as well as family support. To get a better idea I would encourage you to watch this youtube [1] clip that gives a good idea of the help that you could expect.

Does Euraxess Centres provide help for researchers after their move to the country, such as if they encounter later problems in settling in or ČXXMRKMR#

=IWSJGSYVWI8LI)96%<)77GIRXVIWWXEJJ[MPPGSRtinue to look after international researchers after XLI]LEZIEVVMZIHMR)YVSTIERHLIPTXLIQXSWIXXPI in their new home.

How will Euraxess Rights help me if I am facing a problem with my rights at my new place of work/ study in Europe?

)96%<)776MKLXWMWSRISJXLIJSYVTMPPEVWSJXLI)9- 6%<)77MRMXMEXMZI-XWIIOWXSQEOIVIWIEVGLEREXtractive career and aims to ensure that the researcher employer and researcher funder relationship is conducive to successful performance. 'IRXVEP XS XLI )96%<)77 6MKLXW MW XLI )YVSTIER 'LEVXIVJSV6IWIEVGLIVWERHXLI'SHISJ'SRHYGXJSV XLI6IGVYMXQIRXSJ6IWIEVGLIVW?AEWIXSJKIRIVEP TVMRGMTPIWERHVIUYMVIQIRXW[LMGLWTIGMJ]XLIVSPIW responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as [IPPEWSJIQTPS]IVWERHSVJYRHIVWSJVIWIEVGLIVW It helps ensure better employment and working conditions and better careers for researchers throughSYX)YVSTI

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A researcher who experiences problems at his or her TPEGISJ[SVOWLSYPHČVWXGSRXEGXXLIVIPIZERXSJČGI EX XLI MRWXMXYXMSR LI SV WLI [SVOW 8LI )96%<)77 centres network will also be happy to offer advice on how to address the problem.

I’m already working or studying in Europe with funding from an European foundation/institution, or have already completed my fellowship/ WXYHMIW -W XLIVI ER] FIRIČX MR QEOMRK GSRXEGX with or using Euraxess for me?

3JGSYVWI9WI XLINSFTSVXEP XSTPER]SYVRI\XGEreer move. Or you might want to use the jobs portal to identify research talent yourself, maybe for a reWIEVGLKVSYT]SY EVIWIXXMRKYT6IKMWXIV[MXL XLI )96%<)770MROW%7)%2GSQQYRMX]ERHČRHTSXIRtial collaborators, for example, when you are looking to put together a panel for a conference or you are TPERRMRKXSETTP]JSVEKVERXXLEXVIUYMVIWEGSRWSVtium of partners. If you have gone back to your home GSYRXV][LMGLLSWXWE)96%<)770MROWGSQQYRMX] do make sure to make use of the networking and training opportunities that are on offer.

Getting involved with Euraxess

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Can researchers get involved with Euraxess? If so, how may we do so?

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)96%<)770MROW%7)%2MWQEREKIHF]X[SVIKMSRal representatives who are based in Bangkok (Simon Grimley), Thailand and in Singapore (Susanne 6IRX^S[:EWY VIWTIGXMZIP]7MQSRERH-JVIUYIRXP] organise conferences, networking events and traveling workshops on hot topics including writing skills for successful grant application or effective science GSQQYRMGEXMSR 3YV čEKWLMT IZIRX MW XLI ERRYEP WGMIRGI GSQQYRMGEXMSR GSQTIXMXMSR )96%<)77 7GMIRGI7PEQ-R&LEQMRM&LYNYREHSGXSVEP GERHMHEXIEX2SXXMRKLEQ9RMZIVWMX]1EPE]WME'EQpus, won the slam. We are currently working with SYVPSGEPTEVXRIVWXSWIXYTXLIIHMXMSRSJXLMW great event!

8SČRHSYXLS[]SYGERFITEVXSJXLI)96%<)77 Links ASEAN network, please visit our website

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Facebook page

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Contact us via email at

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I really enjoyed my experience working and moving abroad with the help of Euraxess and I’d like to spread the word. How can my local university in Malaysia get more connected with Euraxess?

Drop us an email and do invite us to give a talk at ]SYVYRMZIVWMX]1]GSPPIEKYI7MQSRERH-EVIEP[E]W LETT]XSZMWMXVIWIEVGLMRWXMXYXMSRWEGVSWW%7)%2XS provide information on career and funding opportuRMXMIWMR)YVSTI

REFERENCES

[1] https://youtu.be/hr2VJHM1BOs

[2] http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/ rights/whatIsAResearcher

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