Research Academy Ruhr is one of Germany's most efficient and largest platforms for supporting early career researchers along their career paths. The programs offered under the umbrella of Research Academy Ruhr prepare academics for careers in research, business, and society. They are jointly run by the three UA Ruhr universities of Bochum, Dortmund, and Duisburg-Essen.

The cross-university qualification and networking program is designed by the graduate institutions at the three universities and is open to all researchers from the late master's phase to junior professorship. It is tailored to the requirements of the different career stages and thus creates considerable synergies for the three universities. Approximately 10,000 doctoral and postdoctoral researchers benefit from a specialized range of workshops and career events, providing valuable contacts and opportunities for new research projects within the UA Ruhr.

Research Academy Ruhr also promotes the visibility of UA Ruhr's excellent research conditions on an international level by hosting international postdocs as well as offering consultation sessions and workshops at career fairs all around the world.