Periodic Reporting for period 2 - YUFERING (YUFE Transforming Research and Innovation through Europe-wide Knowledge Transfer)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-02-29
The overall objective of the YUFERING project was to achieve the integration across YUFE partner universities in R&I policies, practices and strategies and in accord with the European Universities Initiative’s objectives in achieving similar convergence in the education area. Therefore, YUFERING added a Research and Innovation (R&I) strategic dimension to YUFE and used the YUFE alliance as a testbed for a transformative approach of the Universities in line with YUFE’s strategy and in synergy with its education dimension and its commitment with the society. YUFERING contributed to create a new vision addressing the challenges for a new paradigm of R&I at European Universities, in the renewal of the European Research Area (ERA).
All activities of YUFERING have had community-engaged R&I as their guiding principle, thus serving the YUFE –specific vision of directing its focus on the involvement of and benefit for the society and citizens. This was fully aligned with the current state of play of deploying scientific knowledge and evidence-based suggestions to improve people’s quality of life while preserving our planet to the greatest possible extent. YUFERING served these purposes by developing a model of collaboration and co-creation between academics, (local) civil society and stakeholders from other sectors to achieve true co-creation in R&I.
To that end, the YUFERING project focused on the following seven main objectives:
1. To define and implement a YUFE community-engaged R&I agenda for an excellent and inclusive European University
2. To function as a catalyst of flipped knowledge transfer and deployment in society Following the vision of the YUFE project, YUFERING places increased emphasis on the involvement of society in R&I.
3. To transform recognition, reward and circulation of talents and teams across Europe
4. To make Open Science the “new normal” by creating a YUFE Open Science Strategy
5. To create and enhance shared research support structures, mechanisms and infrastructures amongst YUFERING partners
6. To achieve a broader impact on the R&I community and the society through a horizontal focus on community-engaged R&I
7. To explore joint structures and to share best practices with other European Universities alliances to ensure system-level impact
YUFERING has not just met its objectives but went beyond them, achieving milestones that go far beyond the initial plans of the project. All deliverables were completed in time and almost all of them are publicly available.
All activities of YUFERING have had community-engaged R&I as their guiding principle, thus serving the YUFE –specific vision of directing its focus on the involvement of and benefit for the society and citizens. This was fully aligned with the current state of play of deploying scientific knowledge and evidence-based suggestions to improve people’s quality of life while preserving our planet to the greatest possible extent. YUFERING served these purposes by developing a model of collaboration and co-creation between academics, (local) civil society and stakeholders from other sectors to achieve true co-creation in R&I.
To that end, the YUFERING project focused on the following seven main objectives:
1. To define and implement a YUFE community-engaged R&I agenda for an excellent and inclusive European University
2. To function as a catalyst of flipped knowledge transfer and deployment in society Following the vision of the YUFE project, YUFERING places increased emphasis on the involvement of society in R&I.
3. To transform recognition, reward and circulation of talents and teams across Europe
4. To make Open Science the “new normal” by creating a YUFE Open Science Strategy
5. To create and enhance shared research support structures, mechanisms and infrastructures amongst YUFERING partners
6. To achieve a broader impact on the R&I community and the society through a horizontal focus on community-engaged R&I
7. To explore joint structures and to share best practices with other European Universities alliances to ensure system-level impact
YUFERING has not just met its objectives but went beyond them, achieving milestones that go far beyond the initial plans of the project. All deliverables were completed in time and almost all of them are publicly available.
The YUFERING project has completed all planned work. Key achievements include:
Researcher Competence Framework and Assessment:
• YUFE contributed to researcher competence discussions, formulating frameworks.
• The YUFE/YUFERING Competence Framework for Researchers is publicly available.
• The UEF disseminated the YUFE Academic Assessment Portfolio.
• The Strategy for a European Career Track System formulated recommendations to mitigate the identified obstacles.
YUFE Training Programme for Academic Supervisors:
• Established a YUFE Training Programme for PhD Supervisors.
• Included sessions on supervision approaches, academic writing, and Generative AI in research.
Participation in ERA-related projects:
• Active involvement of partner Universities in OPUS, SECURE, TWIN4MERIT, and INNO2MARE Horizon Europe (HE) projects.
YUFE/YUFERING/DIOSI Developed Trainings
• Developed trainings in Open Science, Knowledge Transfer and Open Innovations.
• Institutionalised training sessions at YUFE partners on an annual basis.
Establishment of Centres and Networks
• YUFERING’s KT Expert Network expanding to a YUFE-wide KV Network which will be structurally embedded within the YUFE Alliance.
• Pilot R&I node in Bio-YUFE created a platform for joint research.
• UNIRI has established a Science Outreach Centre and initiated a YUFE Section.
Mapping and Action Plan for CERI
• Partners mapped CERI practices at their institutions which is available online.
• Presented CERI conceptual framework and definition.
• Designed CERI workshops for ECRs within the YUFE Alliance.
• UNIRI created an action plan for 2024-2026 on CERI.
Mapping and Action Plan for Research Infrastructures
• A mapping of Research Infrastructures (RIs) at the YUFERING partners was completed.
• An analysis of all RIs, funding, openness and CERI orientation was completed.
• An Action Plan for RIs with proposed next steps for their joint utilisation was prepared.
Open Science
• YUFERING conducted a Full OS pilot implemented almost all YUFE partners.
• Formulated YUFE OS model and guidelines for researcher evaluation.
• YUFERING defined “Open Science Commons” for all YUFE partners. An OS Syllabus has developed for up-skilling researchers (including ECR) in Open Science.
Knowledge Valorisation
• Profile and Career Development Path of KT Managers outlines the essential skillset needed for KV professionals to efficiently interact with societal business actors (SBAs) and is recognised widely by from peer network organisations like ASTP and AUTM.
• YUFE Training on FKT with three modules developed.
YUFE4Postdocs Collaboration
• YUFE4Postdocs programme facilitates exchange of harmonised good practices related to the selection, recruitment, mentoring and support of postdoctoral researchers and their training.
• YUFE4Postdocs programme follows a competitive joint selection process of postdocs with expert evaluations, ensuring the quality of the selection based on the merits of research in full alignment with the CoARA principles and commitments.
Science Outreach Initiatives
• Involvement in Erasmus+ projects connecting science and art.
• Engagements in Science Festivals, European Researchers' nights, and Science Shops.
• Workshops on Science Communication.
Researcher Competence Framework and Assessment:
• YUFE contributed to researcher competence discussions, formulating frameworks.
• The YUFE/YUFERING Competence Framework for Researchers is publicly available.
• The UEF disseminated the YUFE Academic Assessment Portfolio.
• The Strategy for a European Career Track System formulated recommendations to mitigate the identified obstacles.
YUFE Training Programme for Academic Supervisors:
• Established a YUFE Training Programme for PhD Supervisors.
• Included sessions on supervision approaches, academic writing, and Generative AI in research.
Participation in ERA-related projects:
• Active involvement of partner Universities in OPUS, SECURE, TWIN4MERIT, and INNO2MARE Horizon Europe (HE) projects.
YUFE/YUFERING/DIOSI Developed Trainings
• Developed trainings in Open Science, Knowledge Transfer and Open Innovations.
• Institutionalised training sessions at YUFE partners on an annual basis.
Establishment of Centres and Networks
• YUFERING’s KT Expert Network expanding to a YUFE-wide KV Network which will be structurally embedded within the YUFE Alliance.
• Pilot R&I node in Bio-YUFE created a platform for joint research.
• UNIRI has established a Science Outreach Centre and initiated a YUFE Section.
Mapping and Action Plan for CERI
• Partners mapped CERI practices at their institutions which is available online.
• Presented CERI conceptual framework and definition.
• Designed CERI workshops for ECRs within the YUFE Alliance.
• UNIRI created an action plan for 2024-2026 on CERI.
Mapping and Action Plan for Research Infrastructures
• A mapping of Research Infrastructures (RIs) at the YUFERING partners was completed.
• An analysis of all RIs, funding, openness and CERI orientation was completed.
• An Action Plan for RIs with proposed next steps for their joint utilisation was prepared.
Open Science
• YUFERING conducted a Full OS pilot implemented almost all YUFE partners.
• Formulated YUFE OS model and guidelines for researcher evaluation.
• YUFERING defined “Open Science Commons” for all YUFE partners. An OS Syllabus has developed for up-skilling researchers (including ECR) in Open Science.
Knowledge Valorisation
• Profile and Career Development Path of KT Managers outlines the essential skillset needed for KV professionals to efficiently interact with societal business actors (SBAs) and is recognised widely by from peer network organisations like ASTP and AUTM.
• YUFE Training on FKT with three modules developed.
YUFE4Postdocs Collaboration
• YUFE4Postdocs programme facilitates exchange of harmonised good practices related to the selection, recruitment, mentoring and support of postdoctoral researchers and their training.
• YUFE4Postdocs programme follows a competitive joint selection process of postdocs with expert evaluations, ensuring the quality of the selection based on the merits of research in full alignment with the CoARA principles and commitments.
Science Outreach Initiatives
• Involvement in Erasmus+ projects connecting science and art.
• Engagements in Science Festivals, European Researchers' nights, and Science Shops.
• Workshops on Science Communication.
The project has progressed smoothly and all deliverables were completed and submitted. All transformation actions had a major impact on the consortium as a whole, on the partner institutions as well as on their local ecosystems. The concepts of Community-Engaged Research and Innovation (CERI) and the Flipped Knowledge Transfer (now Knowledge Valorisation - KV) were as expected two major novelties that have driven the YUFE alliance towards its differentiation from other similar initiatives and towards its integration into a fully integrated European University with explicit focus on tackling societal challenges through high quality R&I activities. Also, the vision for rendering Open Science as the new normal transformed yet further the way the YUFERING partners carry out their R&I activities and now enables the involvement of citizens through co-creation and the improvement of policies through evidence-based approaches stemming from open data and open research. Another major impact item that was accomplished and is fully in line with the recent R&I policy developments in Europe is the reform of the research assessment framework of the YUFERING partner institutions and the emphasis placed on talent and recognition of achievements. Indicatively it is underlined that almost all YUFERING partners are now signatories of CoARA. The integration of the expected results of YUFERING in the partner institutions' policies through the YUFE 2030 project will become the enabler of the implementation of the European Research Area vision and YUFE aims to be a pioneer in paving the way for other institutions in Europe to follow this transformation process.