The overarching goal of the Research Training Group is to enable our junior researchers to work independently and to become highly competitive and internationally employable academics. To reach this goal, we are pursuing a qualification strategy which is at the same time structured and flexible. We want our junior researchers to concentrate on their own dissertation project and to complete it in time. As for the structured elements of our graduate school, there will be methods trainings, research colloquia and academic seminars offered by PIs on a subject related to standards of governance. Flexibility is introduced with a broad portfolio of additional training opportunities offered by the graduate institutions of the participating universities. To develop individual research skills and soft skills further junior researchers are free to choose, in consultation with their thesis advisors, from this portfolio. The Research Training Group puts a premium on internationalization and diversity. All junior researchers will have funds at their disposal to travel to international conferences and undertake longer research stays abroad. Moreover, the research group has eight international partners (called Mercator Fellows) who cooperate with the group over longer periods of time and will come to visit.