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REBECA 2020

REBECA 2020

SHARING AND LEARNING

Have your ever received an inspiring not-so-expected piece of advice that at some point could change your life?

Researchers' professional lifes are versatile and diverse. Their competences and skills are extremely valuable in many different jobs and sectors. REBECA wants to facilitate young researchers reflect about their options beyond academia.

REBECA aims at putting in touch 50 early stage researchers with an interest in exploring new career options with highly skilled professionals working beyond academia, in order to structure an inspiring and fruitful relationship between them that will support these researchers in their professional career and personal growth.

 

 

This edition of REBECA is implemented and managed by FECYT in its role of EURAXESS Spain coordinator.

FECYT logo web

 

Co-organised with:

Raicex
20% of the mentee positions will be available for researchers currently working outside of Spain.

 

PREVIOUS EDITIONS

The first edition was implemented in 2019 as a pilot within the EURAXESS TOP IV project. You can find information about previous editions and results here:

REBECA 1st Edition 2019

 

REBECA KEY ELEMENTS

  • GOALS:
    • Supporting young researchers in their reflection about career goals, competencies and professional options, by putting them in contact with highly skilled professionals outside of academia.
    • Building an intergenerational and intersectoral network of professionals with interest in supporting early stage researchers to advance in their careers.
    • Promoting researcher careers in professional environments outside of academia.
    • Improving the connections between academia and other sectors
  • VIRTUAL
    • The training and the mentor/mentee meetings will be organized virtually.
  • VOLUNTARY
    • We aim at creating altruistic personal connections
  • 6 MONTHS PROGRAMME
    • Mentors will be supported to facilitate their mentoring role.
    • Mentors and mentees are expected to meet at least 6 times.
  • TOPICS recommended to address include
    • Professional career aspirations
    • What is “Moving Beyond Academia” about?
    • What are the key differences between the academic and non-academic sectors?
    • Branching out: beyond academia and industry
    • Key hard skills
    • Key soft skills
    • Deepen into some soft skills:
      • Gender considerations for STEM professionals
      • How to network
      • Conflict management
      • Time management: life-work balance
      • Communication
    • Self-awareness: over-qualification vs impostor syndrome
    • Career progression
    • What have we achieved? What comes next?

CALENDAR*

  • Mentor-mentee pairing based on common interests in the programme
  • Getting ready for mentoring meetings, including a kick-off and guiding webinar for mentors and mentees

In this edition finally 80 pairs have been matched

 
*Disclaimer: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, dates may be subject of minor adjustments

REBECA 2020-2021 COMES TO AN END

The 2020-2021 edition of REBECA has been successfully closed.

For six months, 80 young predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers have reflected on their professional aspirations, competencies and skills with 80 highly qualified professionals in science, technology and innovation. The program has also offered various training sessions.

MAIN RESULTS

At the end of the edition, a satisfaction and impact survey was carried out, which was answered by 61 of the 80 mentees and 58 of the 80 mentors.

After REBECA, 71% of mentees know about the options outside the academic field, when before starting the program it was only 15% who knew about it.

rebeca-i-know-what-professional-options-i-have

77% of mentees are clear about what their research experience contributes to working outside the academic field, whereas it was only 21% before starting REBECA.

rebeca-i-am-clear-about-how-my-research

66% of mentees are clear, after REBECA, what weaknesses they should address in order to apply for a job outside the academia. Before REBECA it was 12%.

rebeca-i-am-clear-about-what-weakneses-i-should-address

In this edition approximately 20% of REBECA participants were located outside of Spain, so international pairs were established. 83% of mentees and 75% of mentors in international pairs consider that they have benefited from their partner's international experience.

rebeca-score-participation-spanish-scientist

89% of mentees and 94% of mentors value the participation of Spanish scientists abroad through RAICEX as very useful or useful.

rebeca-worked-outside-spain

Likewise, 91% of mentees rate the REBECA experience as good or very good and 98% would recommend it. 87% are satisfied or very satisfied with the match with their mentor and 80% plan to keep in touch with him or her. 87% are completely satisfied with the topics discussed with their mentor during the program and 85% have met at least four times with their mentor.

rebeca-young-researchers

On the other hand, 95% of mentors rate the REBECA experience as good or very good and 98% would recommend it. In addition, 84% plan to keep in touch with their mentee.

rebeca-mentors

COLLABORATORS

The following organizations have actively collaborated in the organization of REBECA 2020-2021, particularly through the engagement of mentors

REBECA 2020 Collaborators

 

 

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us