Ghent University celebrated 30 years of MSCA with inspiring testimonials

Give yourself the chance to grow further – Rector Petra De Sutter

In her opening speech, Rector Petra De Sutter admitted she had never received an MSCA fellowship, as it did not exist at the time. But she does know how important this funding can be for further excellence in research.

"Opportunities like these shape your entire career. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme can do exactly that for you. So take that step. Be ambitious. And give yourself the chance to grow, further than you currently think possible."

Science is a great way to reach people – Marija Mitic and Annelies Van De Ven (European Commission – MSCA Policy Unit)

Marija Mitic and Annelies Van De Ven (European Commission – MSCA Policy Unit)  gave a fascinating insight into the future of MSCA in their keynote speech. The MSCA programme is gaining significant momentum because it’s about more than just research: it’s about stories of ambitious, talented people finding one another, networking and collaborating across borders.

"MSCA is the most international component of the Framework Programme – it takes place all over the world: fellows often return to their home institutions afterwards to use the funding, but maintain their international networks and build long-term partnerships."

Let us be your Sally! – Dr Mia Pistorius (EU team account manager for MSCA)

MSCA helps shape future opinion leaders. At Ghent University, we take a proactive approach and challenge researchers to actively reach out to colleagues with talent and ambition and to excel together in groundbreaking research. 
Everyone should find their Sally! That person who coaches you through your application and project. At Ghent University, you can count on the support of the EU team to guide you through the whole process.

"I'm a music historian, I don't solve any major global problems, so I thought MSCA was not for me. Boy, was I wrong!"

MSCA combines autonomy and community – Prof Marco Caracciolo and Dr Jordi Serrano-Muñoz

The story shared by Marco Caracciolo and Jordi Serrano-Muñoz begins with an email between two ‘globetrotters’ and grew into a research collaboration that perfectly illustrates the three ‘i’s’ of the MSCA programme (international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral).  

"Decide what you really want to do. Focus on what really matters.  Regardless of ambition. It boils down to learning when to seize opportunities and when to let them pass. That’s how you develop your autonomy. And with MSCA, you’re never doing it alone."

"I don’t really want to stop. I’m having such a great time… thanks to MSCA!"

No ‘old boys’ network – Prof Ann Van Soom

Ann Van Soom highlighted the importance of networking when writing applications for projects such as MSCA. It’s not about ‘old boys’ networks’, but rather about seeking partners across all boundaries. You don’t always realize this straight away, but it helps you make faster progress in securing funding for your research and subsequently disseminating it.

"When writing a proposal, you need to be able to explain your research in simple terms, so that the panel members assessing the proposals – who are often non-specialists in your field – can understand it and award you the funding you need. And that’s why disseminating your research via social media is so important."

If your application isn’t approved straight away, try again! – Prof Elfride De Baere

Don’t give up! That message came across strongly in Elfride De Baere’s testimonial. MSCA is about more than just excellence; it also requires impact and implementation. That is why a strong consortium and the visibility of your research are so important: the scope of your research must have a clear ‘face’. Fortunately, the MSCA programme lets you, as a researcher, develop a good balance between ‘training through research’ and ‘research through training’. The EU team at Ghent University offers you excellent service and support in this regard.

"Give the EU team a big hug, they deserve it!"

Get support from the EU Team

Would you like to prepare an MSCA application yourself or are you keen to share your experiences?

Let us know: eu-team@ugent.be