As part of the VOICES project’s mission to promote inclusive academic environments, team members recently participated in the international expert exchange “Inclusive Research Cultures through Mentorship”, hosted at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf and organised by EUMENT-NET and VOICES.
The event brought together engaged colleagues from across Europe for a dynamic and thoughtful exchange on how mentoring can serve as a catalyst for building more inclusive, supportive, and equitable research cultures. Participants shared institutional practices, explored emerging mentorship models, and reflected on how structured, inclusive mentoring can address barriers to career progression—particularly for early-career researchers and underrepresented groups.
Among the highlights were examples of mentorship programmes fostering belonging, career development, and academic wellbeing. Discussions emphasised the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, and instead, adopt flexible, reflective, and intersectional strategies that can adapt to diverse institutional and disciplinary contexts.
The VOICES team was proud to take part in these conversations, share insights from the project, and learn from inspiring practices being implemented across Europe. Events like this are a powerful reminder of the collective commitment to transforming academic cultures from the inside out.
VOICES warmly thanks Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf for hosting such a welcoming and stimulating event, and extends appreciation to all participants for their openness, expertise, and collaborative spirit.
