Over the past few months, VIMAS PhD students have shared their insights and experiences around training schools, conferences, data collection, and secondments. In this post, I’d like to zoom in on something that underpins all of those activities, the importance of building networks during a PhD.
Anyone who has attempted or completed a PhD knows it’s challenging at times, sometimes even seemingly impossible, but always hard work. At the same time, it can be a privilege to have several years to dive deep into a topic and become an expert in a field that fascinates you. During this time, it’s essential to build connections with other researchers, universities, research institutions, and organizations that can directly or indirectly benefit from your work and vice versa.
I’ve been fortunate to make valuable connections throughout my PhD journey so far, first and foremost because of the VIMAS project. In this post, I’ll share some of my experiences and reflections on building networks and how this process has helped me grow as a PhD student and early-career academic.
VIMAS: A Foundation for Collaboration
Many readers will already be familiar with VIMAS, but for those new to our network — welcome! VIMAS (Visitor monitoring and management in protected and recreational areas: new challenges, novel solutions for the Anthropocene) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions network funded by the European Commission, bringing together ten PhD students based at seven universities in six countries: the University of Copenhagen (Denmark), NMBU (Norway), University of Iceland (Iceland), Mid Sweden University (Sweden), University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Eastern Finland (Finland), and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Latvia).
From the beginning, one of the greatest strengths of VIMAS has been the sense of community. We have monthly digital meetups where all PhD candidates share progress, challenges, and victories big or small. These regular touchpoints make a big difference, they turn what could be quite a solitary experience into a collective journey.
The VIMAS Steering Group, which includes two PhD student representatives, ensures that our perspectives shape the direction of the project. As one of the representatives in the first year, I got to see first-hand how much energy and fine-tuning is required to run such a project. This collaborative structure doesn’t just create a better research environment; it also teaches us how to work together on a more strategic level and gives a glimpse of what a future senior academic role could look like.
I’ve often heard comments from PhD students outside of our network, and even from some of our supervisors, expressing a bit of envy at how well-connected and supportive our group is. I don’t take that for granted. Being part of a structured network like VIMAS has shown me how collective strength and shared purpose can make an academic journey not just more productive, but more enjoyable. I’m proud of our group and look forward to continuing our collaborations.
The World Leisure Organization: A Global Perspective
Before starting my PhD, my career path had already connected me with international academic networks. I taught in the leisure and tourism programs at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands (2017–2021) and Vancouver Island University in Canada (2023–2024), both of which are recognized as World Leisure Centers of Excellence (WLCEs) by the World Leisure Organization.
The World Leisure Organization (WLO) is a non-profit network connecting scholars and practitioners in the field of leisure from around the world. It’s a consultative organization to the United Nations, and it promotes the idea that leisure is a fundamental human right, a principle grounded in the World Leisure Organization Charter for Leisure. Universities that demonstrate leadership in leisure-related teaching and research can apply for the WLCE status, joining a global network committed to advancing leisure studies.
Becoming involved with WLO has been a significant part of my professional development. I currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors, representing the Nordic region. Board members are selected to ensure global representation, and my role is to act as the organization’s “eyes and ears” for developments and perspectives from the Nordic countries. A role I’m well positioned to fulfill through my participation in VIMAS.
The board meets once a year in person and a few times online. Last summer, I joined the in-person meeting during the 18th World Leisure Congress in the Netherlands. It was inspiring to connect with scholars from across the globe, from Asia and Latin America to Oceania, and to exchange ideas about the future of leisure research and education. Our discussions covered a range of topics: strategic planning, partnerships, fundraising, sponsorship, and recognizing new universities as World Leisure Centers of Excellence. What stood out most to me was the shared passion and sense of belonging I immediately felt. Being part of WLO has given me a broader understanding of how our research field fits into a global context, and in joining WLO I was also reunited with my mentors from Breda University of Applied Sciences and Vancouver Island University.
The Nordic Soundscape Research Network: Finding New Intersections
Another network that has become unexpectedly meaningful in my PhD journey is the Nordic Soundscape Research Network (NSRN). This group brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, from eco-acoustics to musicians, to explore how sound shapes our experience of environments.
One of our VIMAS co-supervisors, Rose Keller, co-chairs the network, and when I heard that a two-day workshop was being hosted at Mid Sweden University, my curiosity was instantly sparked. I reached out and asked if I could join, and they welcomed me into what turned out to be an inspiring and collaborative group.
What began as a spontaneous decision led to an ongoing engagement. Over the past year, and many great meetings, I’ve become part of a working group developing a positioning paper on soundscape research. It has been eye-opening to collaborate with experts from such diverse backgrounds and to explore intersections between human and other-than-human beings, environment, and sound.
This experience reminded me how valuable it can be to follow your curiosity, even if it means stepping slightly outside your core research focus. I believe the most innovative ideas emerge from these boundary-crossing collaborations.
Conferences: Where Networks Come Alive
Conferences have always been a natural meeting point for researchers, and for us in the VIMAS network, they’ve played a central role in our collective experience.
One of our early highlights was attendingthe12th Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitors in Recreational and Protected Areas as part of our first training school. All ten PhD candidates participated, immersing ourselves in a community of scholars working in a small yet highly relevant field. We weren’t presenting at that stage, but the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and have informal conversations with established researchers was invaluable. These kinds of experiences help you situate your own work within a broader landscape and see where your research might contribute.
Later, several of us attended the Nordic Symposium on Tourism and Hospitality Research, a key regional event in our field. Two of our doctoral candidates, Ilker Gül and Ina Hildeman, even led a special session focused on the work and progress of the VIMAS PhD students. Seeing our group represented at conferences like this has been motivating, it shows that the network is not just a support system but also a platform for visibility and collaboration. Looking ahead, I’m already excited about upcoming conferences where VIMAS researchers will be contributing. These gatherings are more than just presentations and keynotes; they’re places where connections begin. Although it’s sometimes difficult to turn connections into collaborations, you never know what the future holds.
Concluding Reflections: Building Networks as an Investment in People
I’ve always been part of networks in one way or another, as a student ambassador during my studies, a member of participation councils, and later as a researcher in interdisciplinary collaborations. In fact, I got my first teaching assistantship thanks to a connection I built during my master’s program. Looking back, nearly every meaningful professional step I’ve taken has been linked to a network or relationship.
Building networks isn’t just about career advancement. It’s also about finding support systems that help you navigate the challenges of (PhD) life. Doing a PhD can be isolating at times, and engaging with others, even if it means stepping away from the desk or missing a day or two of writing (or a training school), is an investment in your long-term growth and sense of belonging in academia.
Of course, networking takes time and effort. It often means going the extra mile: attending an event you weren’t required to, joining a workshop outside your field, or volunteering for a committee. But these choices add up. They open doors, broaden perspectives, and create relationships that can last a lifetime. I’ve come to see networking not as an obligatory act, but as something rooted in curiosity and generosity. The best connections are built on mutual interest and the willingness to share ideas and opportunities.
Above all, and through all these experiences, I strongly believe in the idea of paying it forward. I’ve benefited greatly from mentors, supervisors, and colleagues who took the time to support me, and I hope that in the future, I can be that person for someone else: a mentor, a collaborator, or simply a believer in their potential. In the end, building networks during your PhD isn’t just about shaping your career; it’s about shaping your academic community.