On 13 November 2024, the annual seeFField partner meeting took place, where the focus was on advancing academic collaboration within and through seeFField.

During the first part of the meeting, Dr. Damian Grasmück, the Humboldt Foundation programme director presented various funding possibilities, highlighting programmes available to support international scholars at all career stages, from postdoctoral to more senior scholars. The support offered by the Humboldt Foundation includes monthly stipends, research and family allowances, personalized mentorship, and access to a vast global network. Moreover, Dr. Grasmück presented the Humboldt Research Award and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award, targeting renowned scholars and ‘rising-star’ researchers, respectively, through nominations by German academics. Finally, the presentation included an overview of the selection criteria for all mentioned programmes. You can download the presentation here.

Following Dr. Grasmück’s presentation, Ger Duijzings, seeFField’s project leader, gave an overview of the project’s achievements in the second year. He highlighted co-teaching and assisted publishing as two key topics for discussion. The discussion also explored more effective methods for sharing information about fellowship programmes and other funding opportunities offered by seeFField.

Looking into the near future, partners were once again invited to participate in the upcoming 2nd SEE Studies Forum, set to take place in Prishtina from 19 to 22 March 2025. The forum is an opportunity to meet and discuss, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, ‘meta’ topics relevant to Southeast European Studies. One of the topics the Forum will focus on is career trajectories and prospects for early career scholars, comparing the situation in the different countries of the region and beyond.