DIME Structural Activity Line: Integrating and Developing Training Activities Associated with DIME
coordinator: Patrick Llerena, Beta

Training is critical for a network like DIME, because it is the best way to develop specific research capabilities in a field that is both complex and interdisciplinary. It is also an essential mechanism for raising awareness of both academics and stakeholders to the issues raised by a dynamic and institutional approach to economic and social questions. Finally, it is the best tool for furthering gender equality by encouraging female students.

In it's current phase, DIME is most active in training at the PhD student level. The network contributes financially and in terms of content (teachers and students from the DIME institutions) to the following activities:

• DRUID/DIME PhD Days: this a forum where PhD students present their work to each other and senior staff. Because of the unique format with short presentations, the PhD days give maximum experience for minimum time invested.
• ESSID and ESNIE Summerschools: a one-week workshop for PhD students, with workshops and close interactions with internationally renowned faculty. Set in a beautiful environment, these Summerschools contribute to scientific and social interaction between scholars who are entering the field.
• DIMETIC training programme: four weeks per year, this course programme offers PhD students an entry-level introduction to the field. In two sessions of two weeks (in Maastricht and Strasbourg), DIMETIC exposes students to state-of-the-art overviews of the field by DIME senior scholars.

DIME is also busy developing other training activities. This includes integrating Masters programmes at the DIME member institutes, extending its PhD training activities by shorter courses and training sessions, and experimenting with distance learning. More news will be available here when new activities unfold.