The second EU-GaNoM Staff Training Week, held in Murcia, brought together professionals working across European project management, research support, international relations, education and financial management. Building on the experience of the first Staff Training Week held in Kalmar, the Murcia edition combined structured preparation, interactive learning, practical workshops and peer exchange to explore how universities can strengthen their capacity to design, manage, sustain and develop European projects. For the participants, however, the value of the training went beyond the sessions themselves. Their testimonials reveal a common thread: effective capacity building is not only about acquiring new knowledge, but about creating the confidence, connections and practical tools needed to put that knowledge into action. The experience in Murcia demonstrated how a carefully designed staff training model can connect research and education professionals, encourage institutional collaboration and generate ideas that continue beyond the training week.

A blended approach that prepares participants for deeper learning

One of the distinctive elements of the EU-GaNoM training model is its blended mobility format, combining online preparation with face-to-face learning. For participants, this structure created a stronger foundation for the in-person sessions. The online component allowed them to prepare in advance, while the face-to-face week in Murcia provided space for deeper discussion, practical exercises and collaborative problem-solving. As one participant from the University of Murcia highlighted, the blended format “allows for better preparation of the content”, while the combination of lectures, workshops and interactive activities created opportunities to explore specific aspects of European project management in greater depth. This view was echoed by participants who appreciated the flexibility of the eLearning component alongside the opportunity for face-to-face interaction. The combination created space not only for structured learning, but also for networking, practical discussions and the exchange of professional experiences and good practices. The human dimension was repeatedly highlighted as an important part of the experience — something that cannot be fully replaced by online training. This balance between preparation, structured learning and direct interaction became one of the defining strengths of the training experience.

From theory to practical tools

The training addressed a wide range of topics relevant to professionals working with European projects, including:

• project design and proposal development;
• project and risk management;
• lump sum funding approaches;
• sustainability and impact planning;
• indicators and project outcomes;
• Artificial Intelligence and its growing role in project management;
• Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ practices;
• synergies between research and education;
• proposal adaptation and resubmission;
• and strategies for strengthening institutional cooperation.

Participants particularly valued the practical dimension of these topics. For Liudmyla Zagoruiko from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the combination of presentations, interactive workshops and the World Café format helped make complex subjects such as lump sum management, risk management and impact planning more concrete. The troubleshooting workshops were also highlighted as an opportunity to work through real consortium challenges collaboratively rather than approaching them only as theoretical concepts. Similarly, the gamification session on EU project management, including the “Hotel Scheherazade” activity, was particularly appreciated for making complex concepts more engaging and memorable. The interactive elements were further strengthened by mixed-group activities, bringing together participants from different universities, professional roles and backgrounds. This diversity added depth to discussions and broadened the range of perspectives shared during the training. These experiences demonstrate an important principle of the EU-GaNoM approach: professional learning becomes more meaningful when participants are able to discuss, test and apply concepts rather than simply receive information.

Strengthening professional confidence across different experience levels

The participants arrived in Murcia with different professional backgrounds and levels of experience. Some had more than 15 years of experience working with European projects, while others were at an earlier stage of their professional journey in proposal writing and project development. This diversity became an important asset. For professionals already experienced in European project management, the training offered an opportunity to update their knowledge, explore emerging practices and discuss current developments with peers. For participants who were newer to European proposal development, the training provided a structured opportunity to understand how European projects are designed, developed and managed. One participant from the University of Crete described the experience as particularly valuable for gaining a clearer understanding of project planning, structure and long-term impact. Another participant from the University of Murcia highlighted how learning more about Horizon Europe strengthened their ability to advise academic staff based on their ideas, contacts and interests. For another participant from the University of Tirana, the training strengthened competencies in European projects, international cooperation and EU grant management, while also providing an opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices with EU grant advisors and project managers from different institutions and countries. The training therefore created a space where different levels of experience could complement one another, allowing participants to learn not only from trainers and experts, but also from each other.

Research and education: creating stronger institutional connections

One of the most significant messages emerging from the testimonials is the value of connecting professionals who traditionally work in different areas of university administration and support. The EU-GaNoM training created opportunities for professionals working in research, education, international relations and project management to discuss common challenges and identify potential synergies. For one University of Murcia participant, one of the most important outcomes was the intention to collaborate much more closely with the research office by creating shared resources and synergies. A participant from Nantes Université similarly highlighted the opportunity to discuss common issues with colleagues working across research and teaching, describing these two areas as increasingly important to the functioning and development of universities in a European context. The diversity of professional backgrounds also helped participants develop a broader understanding of research, education and innovation practices and how these areas can interact within higher education institutions. This cross-sectoral perspective is particularly relevant to the EU-GaNoM mission. European cooperation increasingly requires institutions to work across organisational boundaries, combining expertise in education, research, innovation, internationalisation and project management. The Murcia training showed how staff development can contribute to building these connections from within universities.

From training content to institutional practice

The strongest indication of the training's value is perhaps what participants plan to do with what they learned. The testimonials reveal several concrete pathways for reusing and multiplying the training outcomes.

Sharing knowledge internally

Participants intend to transfer knowledge to colleagues through internal discussions, meetings and future training activities. At Linnaeus University, for example, the knowledge gained is expected to support researchers with project development and funding applications, while also contributing to stronger institutional capacity for international collaboration and project management. At the University of Murcia, training content is expected to be useful for teachers and new colleagues joining project management teams, as well as for experienced staff dealing with specific management situations. Other participants also identified internal dissemination as an important next step, including sharing key insights with colleagues involved in international relations and project development and adapting selected training methodologies for future institutional activities. This creates a multiplier effect: one training experience can reach many more people when knowledge is shared internally.

Supporting future European projects

The training is also expected to have a direct effect on future project development. Participants identified opportunities to apply newly acquired knowledge to ongoing projects as well as future applications. The knowledge gained on project design, proposal writing, risk management, lump sum approaches, impact and indicators can strengthen the capacity of professionals supporting researchers and academic staff in accessing European funding. For some participants, the experience also broadened their understanding across funding programmes. One Horizon Europe finance manager noted that learning about Erasmus+ practices had expanded their understanding of different funding frameworks and project management approaches. The networking dimension also produced concrete opportunities for future cooperation. During the Murcia week, one participant had the opportunity to discuss a project idea with colleagues from Linnaeus University and Nantes Université and receive guidance on identifying a suitable funding call. This illustrates how professional networking can move beyond the exchange of experiences and contribute to the development of future European cooperation.

Developing new training opportunities

The impact is not limited to the participating staff. One Nantes Université participant is already considering how the project outcomes could be used to develop a self-training programme for professors and EU grant advisors, while also making training content available as Open Educational Resources through a dedicated platform. Another participant highlighted the potential of EU-GaNoM content for cascade training aimed at researchers. There is also interest in adapting the training approaches and methodologies for internal meetings, knowledge-sharing activities and future training initiatives within higher education institutions. These examples illustrate how the Staff Training Week can become a starting point for new learning opportunities within institutions, rather than an isolated professional development activity.

Sustainability: thinking beyond the project lifetime

Sustainability was another recurring theme in the Murcia testimonials. Participants reflected not only on how to complete European projects successfully, but also on how project outcomes can continue to generate value after funding ends. The experience of the Odysseas programme at the University of Crete provided one example of how educational collaboration can be sustained over many years and continue to support cooperation beyond the initial project period. At Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the sustainability workshop generated ideas for success stories and follow-up projects, while the impact and indicator planning tools were identified as useful for strengthening future Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe proposals. Other participants also highlighted the importance of maintaining the professional connections established during the training as a basis for future joint initiatives and long-term international cooperation. These reflections reinforce a central EU-GaNoM principle:

The success of a European project should not be measured only by what happens during its funding period, but also by what continues afterwards.

Learning through collaboration

Across the testimonials, participants repeatedly referred to the importance of networking, exchange and collective learning. The training brought together professionals from different countries and institutional contexts, creating opportunities to compare practices, discuss common challenges and discover new approaches. For participants who had already attended the first EU-GaNoM Staff Training Week in Sweden, the Murcia experience also offered continuity and progression. The second training week was not simply a repetition of the first. Participants highlighted the value of building on previous experience, refining the training approach and developing new professional connections. The collective dynamic was strengthened through workshops, role-play, social activities and peer exchange. As one participant observed, the growing expertise of the coordination team, together with the experience gained from the first Staff Week, contributed to more refined preparation and richer discussions during the second edition. The human dimension of the experience was equally important. Participants described their colleagues as collaborative, supportive and open to networking, creating a positive and inspiring working environment.

What participants see for the future

The testimonials also point beyond the immediate outcomes of the Murcia training. Participants see potential for EU-GaNoM's educational content to reach:

• new project managers and grant advisors;
• researchers and academic staff;
• teachers and educators;
• PhD students;
• specialised Master's students;
• and professionals working across research and education support.

There is also interest in adapting elements of the training model to other educational contexts. For example, the blended and interactive approach was considered potentially valuable at school education level, particularly through methods such as gamification, teamwork, problem-solving and flipped-classroom-inspired learning. For PhD students, participants identified European project management as a valuable area for developing transversal skills that can support both academic careers and future project-based professional roles. For Master's students in European studies, international relations or project management, the practical focus on proposal writing, risk management and lump sum approaches was seen as a useful complement to theoretical coursework. The potential for institutional adaptation was also highlighted, particularly through the clear organisation of topics, interactive delivery, game-based activities and group work. These perspectives demonstrate the broader potential of the EU-GaNoM experience: capacity building can become a resource for different communities of learners and professionals.

Five messages emerging from the Murcia experience

Looking across the testimonials, five key messages stand out.

1. Knowledge becomes valuable when it is applied

Participants are planning to use new tools, approaches and practices in their daily work and in future European projects.

2. Peer learning strengthens professional development

The opportunity to exchange with experienced colleagues from different institutions and countries was repeatedly identified as a major benefit.

3. Collaboration can break institutional silos

The training created opportunities to strengthen links between research, education, international relations and project management professionals.

4. Sustainability begins during the project

Thinking about follow-up activities, new initiatives, knowledge transfer and institutional use of results is essential for creating lasting value.

5. Training can create a multiplier effect

When knowledge is transferred through internal discussions, cascade training, self-learning programmes and Open Educational Resources, the impact of one training activity can extend far beyond its original participants.

Beyond Murcia: continuing the EU-GaNoM journey

The second Staff Training Week in Murcia was an important milestone in the EU-GaNoM journey. But the most important part of the experience may be what happens next. The participants' testimonials show that the knowledge gained is already being connected to daily professional practice, future proposals, internal training, institutional cooperation, new learning resources and follow-up initiatives. The experience also demonstrates how professional networking can create pathways towards future project ideas, partnerships and funding opportunities. This is where capacity building becomes sustainable impact. EU-GaNoM is not only about bringing people together for training. It is about creating the conditions for knowledge to travel, from one participant to colleagues, from one department to another, from one institution to future partnerships, and from one project to new initiatives. The Murcia experience demonstrates the value of learning together, sharing expertise and building professional communities around European cooperation. The training week may have ended, but the learning continues.

EU-GaNoM Voices

The testimonials collected following the second Staff Training Week offer a valuable reflection on the project's contribution from the perspective of its participants. Their experiences remind us that successful capacity building is ultimately about people: their knowledge, their professional growth, their willingness to exchange and their ability to turn learning into action. From practical project management skills and new approaches to networking, institutional collaboration and future initiatives, the Murcia experience shows how professional learning can generate value well beyond the training room.

Learning together. Sharing knowledge. Creating impact.

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