The 1st Connect21 early career seminar

On June 22, 2021, the first Connect21 early career seminar was held, marking another milestone in the project’s pursuit of addressing knowledge gaps in global urban real estate research.

The aim of the Connect21 project is to establish an interdisciplinary and interprofessional network of planning and real estate scholars through the joint development of a webinar series and two early career seminars. Institutional partners of the project are the Association of European Schools of Planning Young Academics Network (AESOP YA), the PhD network of the European Real Estate Society (ERES PhD Network), and the Future Leaders of the African Real Estate Society (FLAfRES).

The primary objective of the seminar was to provide early career scholars (PhD students and postdoctoral researchers) with a platform for tailored support and networking. Participants had the opportunity to receive feedback, share knowledge, and build their capacities. The seminar fostered valuable interactions between early career scholars and experienced mentors who specialized in bridging interdisciplinary divides.

The seminar was divided into three parts. In the first part, selected participants will pitch their research (projects). Based on their research topics, participants will then be grouped and assigned to a mentor with relevant expertise for in-depth feedback and discussion. Academic mentors of the session are Prof. Dr. Tuna Tasan-Kok, Prof. Dr. Michael Ball and Dr. Martijn Dröes.

In the second part, academic mentors entered a panel discussion during which they reflect on some of the recurring challenges that early career scholars face when combining critical planning and real estate insights.

In the third and final part, representatives of the AESOP YA Network (Association of European Schools of Planning Young Academics Network), the ERES PhD Network (PhD network of the European Real Estate Society), and FLAfRES (Future Leaders of the African Real Estate Society) introduced their networks, followed by a joint online networking event.