On Thursday, 3 July 2025, the RECAS network hosted the final public event of the 2024/25 fellowship cycle, bringing together fellows, alumni, and institutional partners for a joint reflection on the past year of research and collaboration. The event, moderated by Tara Tepavac of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory in Belgrade, featured insights from Tena Prelec, Assistant Professor at the University of Rijeka’s Centre for Advanced Studies, as well as RECAS fellow, Olimpija Hristova-Zaevska, and RECAS alumna Žaklina Živković, who spoke about their experiences conducting policy-engaged research across Southeast Europe.
As participants looked back on the year’s journey, they also acknowledged the broader accomplishments of the RECAS programme. Since its launch in August 2024, RECAS has supported 15 fellows, organized two regional workshops and a week-long residency at Moise Palace, and hosted more than 15 online seminars and two public events. These activities have been complemented by the development of the Academic Policy Lab – a regional platform designed to facilitate the integration of research into public policy – which now houses over 130 curated contributions in its digital Research Repository. These collective efforts underscore RECAS’s mission to empower early-career researchers, promote inclusive regional collaboration, and build stronger bridges between academia and policymaking in Southeast Europe.
Lessons from the fellowship: Research with meaning and care
Throughout the discussion, the speakers emphasized the importance of producing research that is not only academically rigorous but also socially meaningful and emotionally grounded. For many fellows, RECAS provided a rare opportunity to step outside the constraints of formal academia and to explore new ways of connecting their work to real-world challenges.
Fellows reflected on the value of having space to think critically, work slowly, and build trust within their research communities. They also highlighted the emotional labor that often goes unrecognized in academic settings, particularly when working in politically or socially sensitive contexts. The RECAS fellowship was described as a space of solidarity and reflection, where researchers could share doubts, challenge assumptions, and build long-term relationships across borders.
Connecting research to policy and public engagement
A recurring theme was the importance of bridging the gap between academic knowledge and public policy. Alumni spoke of the need to rethink how research is communicated and used, not only by policymakers but also by civil society and local communities. They emphasized that translating research into policy is not only a matter of simplifying language, but of engaging with people’s lived experiences, recognizing the political nature of knowledge, and co-producing insights with those most affected by policy decisions.
In this sense, the RECAS fellowship was seen not only as an academic opportunity but as a platform for building regional alliances, fostering civic engagement, and exploring the role of research in democratic transformation.
Strengthening regional networks
Participants underscored the unique value of RECAS as a regional initiative. By connecting scholars across Southeast Europe and beyond,the fellowship has helped build a community of researchers committed to public-interest knowledge. Rather than promoting “brain drain”, the program encourages “brain circulation” and shared responsibility for shaping inclusive, evidence-informed futures in Southeast Europe.
As the event concluded, the speakers invited future fellows and partners to keep expanding the RECAS community and to continue imagining new ways in which research, care, and action can go hand in hand.