“I think that the Amsterdam Young Scholars’ Forum was a success, with a lively exchange of ideas in a relaxed atmosphere and Christopher doing a very good job as the chairman. I was really impressed by some of the talks and research projects. It is important for young researchers to have the opportunity to present their work, ask questions and get valuable feedback. (…) Altogether, I can only see advantages and would support the idea to organize these events on a regular basis.”

“I have had a chance to attend the workshop for PhD researchers and young scholars following the conference on the 'Politics of Multilingualism' at the University of Amsterdam. Being a young scholar myself, I enjoyed the forum which gave room for new ideas and research projects to be discussed in greater detail beyond the time restrictions of much shorter panel presentations during the conference. Each and every paper presenter was open to the suggestions and criticism of the other participants which was expressed in a constructive way throughout. The workshop was well-organized, so as to create a convivial atmosphere for an exchange of scholarly views- the fact that the discussion continued over a meal after the end of the workshop is indicative with the interest in the works of one's colleagues and the forum at large. I strongly endorse such events to be held more regularly."

“I believe that the PhD and Young Scholar Forum organized in parallel with the IPSA Conference in Amsterdam was a great success from a number of perspectives. First of all, it granted each and every PhD student a chance to present the project he or she is working on. The simple task of wrapping up one’s project in a single presentation is itself a very useful activity, allowing one to arrange ideas and present them in an understandable way. This, I believe, is an exceptionally good training in a view of presenting one’s dissertation in front of a jury. Secondly, the forum was so structured as to provide each presenter with a chance to present his or her problems, which could then be discussed with the other PhD students and scholars in the room. Personally, I found this opportunity extremely valuable, in that I could share thoughts with other young scholars who are currently experiencing very similar issues. Thirdly, the presence at the forum of non-MIME related young researchers as well as MIME-related senior researchers was very much appreciated. Indeed, it helps a lot to present at the same time to people who are not necessarily familiar with the topic and to people who have much more experience in the field. Obviously, their feedback was also very useful. Finally, I should mention that the whole activity was done in a very familiar and non-official environment, which helped keeping the stress level low and get the best out of the experience. All this being said, I strongly support the idea of organizing PhD Forums on a more regular basis.”

“Wrapping up and presenting your project is a good and important task. Having the chance to present problems and difficulties (in contrast to ordinary conferences, where one often plays his/her role in the scientific competition and presents the own research as the newest and most promising out there). Sharing thoughts and problems with other young scholars who are in a similar position as well as with senior researchers. I think that this combination is extremely useful. On the one hand, the other students better know what you struggling with. On the other hand, the seniors have the experience and expertise to provide you with an assessment of your research as well as with recommendations. It feels more like a class-room kind of setting than like a conference and so one can speak more freely and open. The familiar and non-official environment strongly contributed to that feeling! I think the forum was popularizing the MIME project among non-MIME PhD students and young scholars. In contrast to the conference the days before and to conferences in general, it was an amazing opportunity to have so much time for a presentation. Often, you have 10 to 20 minutes, which is usually not sufficient to really get into a deeper discussion about your project.”

"The Young Scholars Forum organised by Christopher Houtkamp following the Politics of Multilingualism conference was a great opportunity for PhD students to come together to discuss our work with each other in greater depth than would usually be possible.
The Forum programme provided us with a really interesting range of topics and academic backgrounds and included participants who were not affiliated with the MIME project. This meant that participants were able to present their projects to an audience with a variety of perspectives and degrees of familiarity with the topics in question, which was very useful experience. Additionally, the presence of senior MIME researchers was helpful because they really engaged with the presentations and discussions and provided thoughtful, constructive feedback.
The Forum also, crucially, provided presenters with an opportunity to discuss any challenges that may have arisen in the course of their research, in a supportive setting in which the other participants could ask questions and offer suggestions.
The informal design of the Forum was really beneficial in this respect because it allowed for freer discussion and created a space in which participants could feel comfortable detailing any difficulties they had encountered. This felt like a rather unique opportunity and it led to some very fruitful discussions and allowed for connections to be drawn between projects, with participants sharing resources as well as their own experiences in order to help one another.
In addition to the unusual opportunity to present and discuss our research in such depth, this created a collaborative environment and provided a very valuable experience that will hopefully be repeated in the future."