The METEOR project is driven by the need to transform doctoral education to better align with societal challenges and the demands of a rapidly evolving labour market. While the PhD is the highest academic qualification, its traditional focus on individual academic achievement often misses to equip researchers with the transversal skills needed to thrive in interdisciplinary, collaborative, and non-academic environments. METEOR aims to tackle skill mismatches, limited career guidance, and mental health pressures of doctoral students and early career researchers (ECRs).

To achieve this, METEOR delivers a comprehensive program combining evidence-based training with participatory methodologies. The project develops innovative online and offline training resources focusing on transversal skills like teamwork, intercultural competence, communication, and entrepreneurship. Core activities are in-person winter schools, online peer mentoring, and creating transdisciplinary research proposals aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, enhancing researcher employability, mental well-being, and societal impact.

The METEOR consortium comprises 13 partners, including leading universities, research institutes, and training providers from Poland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Cyprus, Spain, Austria, Georgia, Türkiye, and Brazil. Leveraging strong connections with national education ministries and international networks, the project delivers long-lasting improvements to doctoral education and researcher development worldwide.