Staff exchange – Karolinska Institutet

At the end of May, Sabina Bossi from the Communications and Public relations office travelled to Radboud University in the Netherlands together with Emma Hägg to take part in a three-day staff training within the European University Alliance NeurotechEU.

I work as a Communications Strategist at KI’s Communications and Public Relations Office, focusing on collaboration and external relations. I have been involved in the university alliance NeurotechEU’s communication activities over the past few years, including the previous communication staff training hosted by KI in 2025. Emma Hägg from the International Relations Office, who leads the alliance’s work package on impact and dissemination, invited me to join the staff training programme at Radboud University in the Netherlands.

The aim of this meeting was to continue the work initiated during a previous meeting at KI in May, exchange experiences and contribute to the update of NeurotechEU’s Communication and Dissemination Strategy (Deliverable D5.2). Discussions focused on how communication can support the alliance’s objectives while allowing room for different institutional contexts and ways of working.

The history of Radboud University

One session that stood out was a lecture by university historian Jan Brabers, who introduced us to the history of Radboud University. Learning about the university’s development since its foundation in 1923 and its role during the Second World War. It highlighted how each university’s history and values influence its identity and culture, something that is worth remembering when working together across institutions and countries.

Sharing best practise in research communication

Another interesting session was led by Thomas Haenen, who presented Radboud University’s approach to research communication. One example was their use of short video interviews with researchers. During events, a camera is set up in a visible location and researchers are invited to stop for a minute and explain their research in the form of an elevator pitch. The videos are then published on LinkedIn, giving audiences a chance to meet researchers directly and hear about their work in their own words. It is a simple format that makes research communication both accessible and personal. You can see examples on Radboud University’s LinkedIn page.

Valuable discussions

As in many staff mobility activities, some of the most valuable discussions took place between sessions. Talking with colleagues from across the alliance about everyday communication work, common challenges and different approaches provided ideas that can be adapted to our own context at KI.

The visit also reinforced the importance of having a shared communication framework for NeurotechEU while recognising that each partner university has its own audiences, priorities and communication channels. Finding that balance is an ongoing task, and the staff training provided an opportunity to work on it together.

The three days at Radboud University offered both practical ideas and a better understanding of how communication is organised across the alliance. They also strengthened the network of colleagues working with NeurotechEU communication, making future collaboration easier.