The Initial Training Network “Integrated Training Programme for Analysis, Assessment and Advice on EU´s External Action and its Institutional Architecture” (EXACT) aimed at preparing 14 Early Stage Researchers (ESR) for professional and academic careers in universities as well as in the public and private sector in academically based consulting for policy makers. The training network focused its research on major current and future challenges of the EU in the fields of Commercial Policy, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common European Defence Policy and Development Cooperation. The training provided through EXACT bridged the gap between Ph.D. training within the academic world on the one hand and the “down-to-earth” need of potential employers in consulting or advisory circles on the other.
Therefore, the project pursued an integrated two track curriculum that involved three universities and six think tanks: The scientific track concentrated on academic training leading to a Ph.D. degree, track II focused on the training of professional skills. Given the growing market for academically trained EU experts in both public and private sectors, the integrated curriculum developed a triple “A” catalogue of skills: theory-led Analysis and Assessment of potential future scenarios in the field of EU’s external action and Advice for strategies. The early stage researchers attended a 36 month training programme including local and network-wide activities (e.g. individual research projects and Network Seminars) provided by universities and think tanks in the network. The early stage researchers had the opportunity to obtain a double Ph. D. degree (“co-tutelle”) from two participating universities as well as the EXACT Certificate issued by all participating organisations.
In the context of the project EXACT (Marie Curie ITN on EU external action), from the 1st March onwards, three Early Stage Researchers (ESR) joined the TEPSA Secretariat in Brussels for eight months. Beside the elaboration of their PhD, they were involved in the daily work of the office notably in the organization of TEPSA activities and conferences.
