Academic career planning and leadership (ACLA) course 2025-2026

Academic career planning and leadership course (ACLA)

The sixth edition of this course is now open for applicants (deadline 15.8.2025 at 15:00). This course is targeted to post-doctoral researchers who are launching their independent researcher career and are thinking about building their own research group.

We will discuss career planning and trajectories, strategic mapping of research horizons, funding opportunities/challenges, building and leading a research group, project management, social impact issues and publication strategies, data management and research ethics.

Approximately 15-20 participants will be enrolled, representing a wide disciplinary range of social sciences and humanities, across all faculties of the City Centre Campus.

The course will convene in six sessions (Fridays: 10-15) over the academic year.

Workshop days are: October 3, November 7, December 5, February 6, March 6, and April 10.

Participants should make sure that they are able to commit to these dates.

For early May (2026) we are planning an excursion to Brussels to learn about European science policy and funding opportunities.

To apply fill in the form below.

You will need

short CV
list of 5 of your recent publications
(one page) abstract of your ongoing research project
short application letter, letting us know what kind of questions and challenges you think you need support and help with.
Deadline for applications: August 15, 2025 15:00.
Admission results by the end of August.

Inquiries: risto.kunelius@helsinki.fi or pekka.a.makela@helsinki.fi

Personal information

First name

Last name

Title

(Primary) affiliation	Faculty of Arts Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty Educational Sciences Faculty of Law Faculty of Theology Swedish School of Social Science Other

Department, discipline or unit name

Language skills / preference

Finnish

English

Course application

Please attach one pdf-document, which includes the following items:

• short CV
• list of 5 of your recent publications
• (one page) abstract of your ongoing research project
• short application letter, letting us know what kind of questions and challenges you think you need support and help with

Adding the attachment: After submitting the form (by using the Submit button in the “Proceed” –section), you will be directed to another page where the attachment can be uploaded to the system.