On 20 February 2026, the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš hosted the PhD Meet-Up “Research Opportunities: From Ideas to Impact” within the UR-WISE project, organised in cooperation with the Association of Young Economists of Serbia.
The event brought together PhD candidates, students, faculty members, and representatives of professional associations to explore practical pathways for engaging early-career researchers in scientific projects, international collaboration, and policy-relevant research.
The first part of the programme was structured as an expert session, bringing together representatives of academia, professional associations, and the student community to discuss the institutional ecosystem supporting young researchers. The Meet-Up opened with introductory addresses including the Dean of FEUN, Vladislav Marjanović, Toplica Spasojević, representative of the Serbian Economists’ Association, Aleksandar Manasijević, member of the Association of Young Economists, and others. Their remarks emphasised the importance of strengthening intergenerational dialogue and creating institutional support structures for young researchers.
Prof. Jelena Stanković, UR-WISE Project Coordinator, presented an overview of the project’s objectives, coordination framework, and opportunities for doctoral candidates to engage in research activities aligned with data-driven policy analytics and urban and regional development.
The session “Youth Potential: Scientific Projects & Research Opportunities,” delivered by Marina Stanojević and Ivana Marjanović, focused on translating research ideas into tangible academic and professional engagement.
The speakers presented concrete opportunities for PhD candidates, including:
The session highlighted that early-career researchers are not only beneficiaries of institutional initiatives but active contributors to research excellence and innovation.
The afternoon programme moved into a practical format, with a hands-on brainstorming session dedicated to generating ideas for future project proposals and collaboration formats. Participants worked in an interactive setting, discussing potential research themes, funding opportunities, and interdisciplinary approaches relevant to local and regional development challenges.
The event concluded with an open discussion on next steps and follow-up engagement, reinforcing UR-WISE’s commitment to mentorship, research career development, and institutional capacity building. The Meet-Up marked an important milestone in strengthening the research ecosystem at FEUN and supporting the next generation of scholars in transforming ideas into impact.