Network Wide Event at University of Twente

Our first Network Wide Event (NWE) which was held at University of Twente. The NWE-I is part of Work Package (WP) 2 – Training, which comprehends to the complementary Network Wide Training. In total around 47 people participated and the event took place from March 3^rd to March 7^th, 2025 in Enschede, Netherlands.

The DN NEPIT Network Wide Event kicked off with an introduction by Project Manager Jan Beerens and Dr. Robert Vogt, setting a welcoming and enthusiastic tone for the week. The day was dedicated to soft skills training, where Jan Beerens led insightful sessions on time management, emphasizing the importance of effective planning and prioritization. Participants engaged in team-building activities that fostered collaboration and team building among the doctoral candidates. The day concluded with a delightful tour of the University of Twente campus, where participants solved ethical dilemmas linked to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion posed by the project manager while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

During the NWE, the DCs were given a variety of assignments, including creating a new proposal as part of the Immersive Learning for Innovation. These concepts will be elaborated in future events as part of a Research and Innovation (R&I) agenda to address social concerns. During the last NWE, the DCs are required to prepare a pitch on the Pathway To Impact (PTI) in order to train them explicitly on the exploitation of their outcomes, including commercialisation.

Tuesday was a day of personal and professional development. Floriana Anselmucci conducted a workshop on creating a personal career development plan (PDCP), helping participants map out their professional goals and aspirations. Dr. Mathias Magdowski presented an engaging workshop on science communication and dissemination, highlighting the importance of effectively sharing research findings. Part of the training is to disseminated their experience via LinkedIn, check out their experience below. Professor Frank Leferink delivered a thought-provoking lecture on ethics and research integrity, discussing the critical importance of ethical practices in research and publication. The day was filled with valuable insights and practical advice, equipping participants with essential skills for their academic and professional journeys.

Wednesday the theme switch from soft skills towards hard skills with cultural and industrial perspectives. Associate Partner Makoto Hara shared insights on cultural differences between Japan and the EU, along with his PhD journey. He introduced the use of reverberation chambers (RCs) for EMC measurements in Japan, providing a unique perspective on international research practices. Associate Partner Jesper Lansink Rotgerink from NLR discussed the transition from anechoic chambers to reverberation chambers for EMC testing. External Advisory Board Member Dr. Martin Aidam from Mercedes-Benz AG highlighted the significance of RCs in the automotive industry. The day concluded with an official dinner at ASAKA restaurant in Enschede, offering a chance for (in)formal networking and relaxation over food and drinks.

Thursday was a day of reflection and hands-on learning. Doctoral candidates presented their research progress to the panel of experts and professors, receiving valuable feedback and guidance with lots of learning. The day also featured a PhD defense by Denys Pokotilov, who successfully defended his thesis on “Time Domain Magnetic Field Measurements Below 30 MHz from Hours to Minutes” under the MSCA ETOPIA project. The afternoon was dedicated to a practical demonstration on reverberation chambers, where Rıdvan ABA and Dr. Robert Vogt provided hands-on training and measurements at the Radio Systems Lab. This session offered practical insights into EMC testing environments and experimental setups, enhancing the participants' understanding of RC applications. Supervisory Board visited Associated Partner Thales to learn more about the practical implementation of EMC.

The IEEE EMC Benelux Chapter and NEPIT hosted the "Spirit of Reverb Chambers" public event on March 7, 2025, at the University of Twente. The event was also shared with the IEEE EMC German Chapter and was linked to the first Network Wide Event (NWE-I) hosted by the MSCA Doctoral Network NEPIT and attended by more than 30 reverberation chamber enthusiasts. For more details, you can go to the dedicated page on "Spirit of Reverb Chambers". 

To Summarise, the NWE-I was held in Enschede at the University of Twente (UT), from March 3^rd to March 7^th, 2025, to show work progress, share the knowledge of DCs and make them interact with academia and industrial experts. A huge synergy between DC, industrial experts (internal and external to the project), academic experts and beneficiaries was established.

The event was a great success. Meeting in person and aligning the challenges of the NEPIT project. Collaborating and socialising with learning soft and hard skills. Academic and industrial input.

Check out the experiences of the Doctoral Candidate