On 21–22 September 2026, Dr Angelika Zanki, who serves as a project manager and facilitator in the ERC StG Spectral Recycling project led by Prof. Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska, participated in the specialised workshop “PolSCA Masterclass – Advanced Workshop: Research Project Management Using the PM² Methodology”, organised by the PolSCA – Polish Science Contact Agency in Brussels, in cooperation with the Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot.
Participation in the training formed part of Angelika’s continuous professional development and the ongoing enhancement of her competences in research project management and facilitation. Working on projects funded under ERC grants requires continuous updating of knowledge, becoming familiar with new management methodologies, and improving approaches to work organisation and team collaboration. Angelika consistently develops her professional skills in order to provide increasingly effective support for project implementation, streamline processes, and respond to the evolving requirements associated with the management of research projects.
During the two-day workshop, she deepened her knowledge of the application of the PM² methodology to research project management, with particular attention to the specific characteristics of projects implemented within European funding programmes. A significant part of the training focused on practical aspects of project planning and monitoring, tracking milestones and outcome and impact indicators, as well as requirements related to periodic and final reporting. The workshop also addressed the potential use of artificial intelligence in the reporting process, including the collection, organisation and summarisation of project data, as well as the preparation and verification of report content.
Another important component of the training was the development of competences in risk, issue and project change management. Participants worked on methods for identifying and classifying risks, maintaining a risk register, and developing appropriate risk response plans. The workshop also addressed the distinction between risks and issues, escalation pathways for problems, and change control in relation to the project scope, schedule and budget.
The workshop also covered project communication and diplomacy, particularly in situations requiring coordination, agreement and negotiation within teams and consortia. Participants were introduced to the potential use of prompt engineering and AI tools to support communication, negotiations and day-to-day administrative work. Particular attention was given to the Human-in-the-Loop and AI-Copiloting models, which can support the streamlining of processes while retaining human responsibility for decisions. The topic of artificial intelligence generated an extensive discussion among the participants, highlighting the need to establish clear principles and guidelines for the use of various AI tools in the day-to-day administration of European research projects.
An important part of the training was also the analysis of the research project life cycle, from initiation through to project closure, including work with real-life scenarios and the exchange of experiences and good practices. The workshop also addressed the respective responsibilities of the individuals involved in project implementation, helping to further clarify roles and areas of cooperation within the project.
The workshop, led by Dr Agnieszka Grzegorczyk, a trainer and expert in project management in the R&D sector and public administration, had a strongly practical focus and provided an opportunity to directly relate the topics discussed to real-life challenges encountered in the implementation of research projects.
Participation in the training enabled Angelika to expand and update her competences in ERC project management, as well as to become familiar with new tools and working methods that can be applied to the ongoing implementation of the project. The knowledge acquired may contribute to further improvements in organisational processes, reporting, risk management and project communication. At the same time, Angelika actively shared her own experience and proposed solutions to practical challenges arising in the context of working on the aforementioned project, thereby contributing to the exchange of knowledge and good practices among the workshop participants.
