Conference

Academia in Motion symposium and Town Hall meeting

Date

Tuesday 12 May 2026

Time

10:00 - 16:00 hour

Address

PLNT
Langegracht 70
2312NV Leiden

The Academia in Motion programme, focused on Open Science and Recognition & Rewards, has been underway for several years. The movement is increasingly taking shape in both policy and practice, within faculties, across the university, and in national and international contexts.

On Tuesday 12 May, we will come together to share outcomes and experiences and to engage in dialogue about the progress and future of the programme. The event consists of a Town Hall and a symposium.

In the morning, we will host a Town Hall in the form of interactive workshop sessions, where we will engage in dialogue on specific elements of the programme, such as faculty career policies, opportunities for PhDs, quality criteria, and publishing practices. In the afternoon, the symposium session will further deepen the conversation with participants, Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), and university leaders. Which changes are being implemented in practice? What stands in the way of optimal implementation? And what is needed to turn good intentions into everyday practice?

Why take part?

1. Share your expertise and experience – and put them to use in the workshops.
2. Learn from others – exchange insights and good practices with colleagues from different faculties and disciplines.
3. Help shape the agenda – use the registration form to tell us which topics you consider important for the Town Hall.
4. Contribute to the movement – your perspective is essential for deepening the conversation, taking concrete steps and making the impact of these changes visible in practice. Together, we can move the programme forward.

Set Academia in Motion – and get involved!

Sign up now

For whom?

This event is open to all staff at Leiden University. Whether you are a PhD candidate, postdoc, lecturer, researcher, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, academic leader, or working in a research support role such as data steward, research assistant, lab technician, or a similar position – your perspective is valuable to the conversation.

Programme

09:30	Registration and welcome
10:00	Opening plenary
10:30	Workshop session 1
11:45	Workshop session 2
13:00	Lunch (please indicate any dietary requirements or allergies when registering)
14:00	Town Hall
16:00	Drinks
17:00	End of programme

The entire programme will be in English so that everyone across the university can take part.

If you can’t attend the full day, you’re welcome to join just the morning or afternoon session, including lunch or the drinks afterwards.

Interactive workshops

There will be two workshop sessions during the symposium. When registering, please indicate which workshops interest you. This will help with our planning. You will make your final selection on the day itself.

Workshop 1 – Quality in Academic Work

What do we actually mean by quality in academic work? And if quality is more than publications alone, how do we make it visible and a topic of conversation within teams?

In this session, we will explore how to adopt a broader view of academic quality, in line with the AiM programme. We will discuss how the university-wide teaching matrix (first workshop session) and research matrix (second workshop session) can support better recognition and use of the different contributions that academic work entails. Faculties will also share experiences and good practices from implementing these matrices in their local career development policies.

Workshop 2 – The Future of Publishing

How future-proof is the current system of scholarly publishing? Join the conversation.

Open Science calls for research to be shared in ways that are accessible, transparent, and fair. But does the current publishing system still support these goals? In this interactive workshop, we will explore the future of scholarly publishing together. We will discuss how the new Leiden University Framework for Scholarly Publishing is being implemented by our faculties and what it means for researchers and universities. We will also look at current Open Access publishing models and why some are increasingly under pressure. In addition, we will explore alternative approaches that could make research faster and more accessible. What do these developments mean for you as a researcher and how can we work together towards a more sustainable and fair system for sharing knowledge?

During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to talk to experts from CDS (Centre for Digital Scholarship, UBL) and CWTS (Centre for Science and Technology Studies).

Workshop 3 – Parenting in Academia

How do you combine an academic career with parenting young children? For many early‑career researchers, this is a daily challenge: from lack of sleep and unpredictable childcare to publication pressure and implicit expectations within academia, particularly during the early years of parenthood. Questions around gender inequality and career progression also play a part.

Academic parents and experts will share their experiences: What obstacles did they encounter? What genuinely helped? And what is needed to combine parenthood with a sustainable academic career? Together, we will reflect on what can change at the institutional and cultural levels.

Workshop 4 - Beyond the dissertation: Reshaping PhD trajectories at Leiden University

What should a PhD dissertation actually demonstrate? Traditionally, the dissertation has been treated as the central proof of a researcher’s competence, often measured primarily through publications. Yet the reality of doctoral work is much broader. PhD candidates contribute in many ways that are rarely formally recognized: developing data and software, mentoring students, collaborating across disciplines, engaging with society, and implementing open science practices.

This session explores the idea of the PhD as a true demonstration of academic competence. Rather than expanding expectations or creating a new checklist of required activities, we will reflect on how doctoral trajectories can better recognise diverse contributions and different researcher profiles. Together with PhD researchers and graduate school leaders, we will discuss what competencies a future dissertation should make visible, how open science practices can be embedded in PhD trajectories, and how doctoral training can prepare researchers for careers both inside and outside academia.

Workshop 5 – Leadership

Leadership helps bridge differences between people and groups, and enables a shared understanding of both goals and the paths we take to reach them. It is closely connected to the aim of Academia in Motion: fostering a more open, collaborative and inclusive academic community.

Leadership can be demonstrated by anyone in a group. It involves building connections, working together, taking responsibility and pushing boundaries. As these leadership competencies become increasingly important in promotion policies, it is crucial to understand they mean.

What does good collaboration involve? How do you build partnerships with civil society and create a shared language? How do you bridge interdisciplinary differences and navigate different working styles? Leadership comes into play in all these questions.

In this interactive session, we will examine how leadership is manifested in our daily work, and the Leadership Team will share insights and practical tools.

Workshop 6 – Engaging with Society

One of the pillars of Open Science is opening up research to the participation of citizens and societal actors via public engagement, dialogue, and Citizen Science - but how might that fit with your own research or teaching? In this workshop we will explore the possibilities, discuss how one might take a first small step, and gather feedback on the types of guidance and support needed in practice.

Town Hall – The next step for Academia in Motion

What is needed to ensure that the ambitions of Academia in Motion take root in everyday practice?

In this interactive Town Hall, we will bring together insights from the workshops and engage with university leaders and Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) on the future of the programme. The discussion will touch on topics such as academic quality, publishing, leadership and PhD programmes.

The audience will play an active role, and questions, experiences and critical reflections will be warmly welcomed.

About Academia in Motion

Academia in Motion is Leiden University’s university-wide programme dedicated to Open Science and Recognition & Rewards. The programme supports faculties and services in embedding a broader perspective on quality, collaboration, leadership and talent development in daily academic practice. 

By connecting local initiatives to national and international developments, Academia in Motion contributes to a sustainable cultural change in the way academic work is recognised and valued.