The project consists of interconnected workshops designed to equip students with both a critical understanding of Europe’s multilayered realities and the practical skills needed to conduct field research in sensitive sociopolitical environments. It brings together theoretical debates on decolonizing knowledge production with hands-on training in culturally sensitive and ethically grounded fieldwork. Through this combination, the initiative seeks to prepare students to navigate diverse and sometimes challenging European contexts while safeguarding their mental and emotional well-being during research.

It encourages researchers to approach contemporary issues critically, ethically, and with an awareness of their own resilience. Two workshops are organised as part of the project. First one focuses on Europe’s complexity, the persistence of East–West dichotomies, and the epistemic hierarchies shaping knowledge about the continent. The second workshop offers practical training in fieldwork methodologies, researcher positionality, and ethical engagement with marginalized or trauma-affected communities.

The project will culminate in the creation of openly accessible didactic material for students, lecturers, and supervisors. This resource will synthesize the risks associated with field research for both researchers and researched populations, reflect the insights and discussions of the workshops, and provide a foundation for future training across partner institutions in Central Europe.