Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CIVICA RESEARCH (THE EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES - RESEARCH AND INNOVATION)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-07-01 bis 2023-12-31
Building upon decades of successful partnerships, CIVICA institutions joined forces to reaffirm the vital role of European social sciences in educating future generations and producing research connected to the most pressing challenges across Europe and the world. CIVICA covers a series of integrated education and research activities focused on four key topics: Societies in Transition – Crises of Earth; Democracy in the 21st Century; Europe Revisited; and Data-Driven Technologies for the Social Sciences.
Funded under Horizon 2020’s Science with and for Society (SwafS) call, CIVICA Research was launched in January 2021 with the aim of endowing CIVICA with the instruments of an ambitious and innovative research strategy and creating a joint, long-term research environment for the alliance.
Divided into 7 work packages, CIVICA Research explored institutional transformation and sought to effect change through: designing and implementing a common, strategic research agenda (WP1), advancing human capital and academic skills (WP2), developing shared research and innovation ecosystems (WP3), building an ambitious Open Science action plan (WP4), exploring joint research infrastructures and synergies within and outside CIVICA (WP5), coordination and management (WP6), and implementing communication and dissemination activities (WP7).
The CIVICA Research pilot phase concentrated on experimentation, dedicating resources to initiate a variety of new activities and test innovative forms of inter-institutional cooperation, which allowed partners to deepen their understanding of one another and better identify needs in order to sharpen the alliance’s focus on achievable and necessary priorities.
CIVICA Research proved that it can both successfully contribute to advancing institutional transformation and capacity building, as well as foster tangible and engaging academic activities focused on excellence. Furthermore, the project laid a vital groundwork for realising CIVICA's vision of establishing a research-driven European University of Social Sciences, offering a robust framework for alliance members to strategize on supporting and institutionalising research within the CIVICA over the long term. Although the CIVICA Research project has concluded, its impact and the insights gained will persist, guiding the alliance's future endeavours within research and ensuring a lasting legacy.
Funded under Horizon 2020’s Science with and for Society (SwafS) call, CIVICA Research was launched in January 2021 with the aim of endowing CIVICA with the instruments of an ambitious and innovative research strategy and creating a joint, long-term research environment for the alliance.
Divided into 7 work packages, CIVICA Research explored institutional transformation and sought to effect change through: designing and implementing a common, strategic research agenda (WP1), advancing human capital and academic skills (WP2), developing shared research and innovation ecosystems (WP3), building an ambitious Open Science action plan (WP4), exploring joint research infrastructures and synergies within and outside CIVICA (WP5), coordination and management (WP6), and implementing communication and dissemination activities (WP7).
The CIVICA Research pilot phase concentrated on experimentation, dedicating resources to initiate a variety of new activities and test innovative forms of inter-institutional cooperation, which allowed partners to deepen their understanding of one another and better identify needs in order to sharpen the alliance’s focus on achievable and necessary priorities.
CIVICA Research proved that it can both successfully contribute to advancing institutional transformation and capacity building, as well as foster tangible and engaging academic activities focused on excellence. Furthermore, the project laid a vital groundwork for realising CIVICA's vision of establishing a research-driven European University of Social Sciences, offering a robust framework for alliance members to strategize on supporting and institutionalising research within the CIVICA over the long term. Although the CIVICA Research project has concluded, its impact and the insights gained will persist, guiding the alliance's future endeavours within research and ensuring a lasting legacy.
WP1: 7/7 deliverable reports successfully completed
D1.1 Organization of snowball seminars
D1.2 Final report on the research strategy
D1.3 Set up of the Scientific Advisory Board
D1.4 Organization of hackathons
D1.5 Organization of the pilot calls
D1.6 Evaluation report
D1.7 Activity updates (D1.1 D1.4 D1.5)
WP2: 7/7 deliverable reports successfully completed
D2.1 Common catalogue of academic trainings
D2.2 Launch of innovative research methods workshops
D2.3 Launch of Excellence Tours
D2.4 Recommendations for a fully operational course fair
D2.5 Launch of multi-site Postdoctoral Scheme
D2.6 Report on best HR practices to accelerate transformation of policies
D2.7 Evaluation report
WP3: 9/9 deliverable reports successfully completed
D3.1 Feasibility study of a CIVICA video conferencing software application
D3.2 Feasibility study for collective subscribing to the major bibliographical databases
D3.3 Recommendations on shared library services
D3.4 Report on joint archival policies
D3.5 Feasibility study of an experimental lab
D3.6 Online platform and mobile app for gaming
D3.7 Feasibility study for a shared research data repository
D3.8 Recommendations on the development of a joint research information system
D3.9 Evaluation report
WP4: 6/6 deliverable reports successfully completed
D4.1 Networks of Open Science contact points (administrative and academic staff)
D4.2 Open Science Action Plan
D4.3 Report on the data interoperability and re-use of research outcomes
D4.4 Recommendations for Open Science indicators for human capital
D4.5 Training to Open Science by design for young researchers
D4.6 Evaluation report
WP5: 9/9 deliverable reports successfully completed
D5.1 Network of research managers
D5.2 Inventory of best practices for research management
D5.3 Recommendations for cross-border doctoral training
D5.4 Doctoral rotating conferences
D5.5 Launch of test phase of the Interdisciplinary Lab
D5.6 Attendance of the Forum of European Universities (FOREU)
D5.7 Common actions defined with other Alliances
D5.8 Evaluation report
D5.9 Activity updates (D5.4)
WP6: 5/5 deliverable reports successfully completed
D6.1 Project Plan
D6.2 Data Management Plan
D6.3 Mid-term policy brief
D6.4 Final policy brief
D6.5 Closing project conference
WP7: 6/6 deliverable reports successfully completed
D7.1 Project logo
D7.2 Website presence
D7.3 Communications strategy
D7.4 Dissemination and exploitation strategy including stakeholders database
D7.5 Organization plan of the CIVICA RESEARCH labelled scientific events
D7.6 Evaluation report
Overall Results: Exploitation and Dissemination
The CIVICA Research projects encompasses 7 work packages and a total of 49 distinct deliverables. Each of these activities yielded unique results, which were then exploited and disseminated in various ways (e.g. the CIVICA Research Blog and Newsletter, the CIVICA Research Closing Conference, etc.). In our final periodic technical report (section 1.4 Impact), we outline KPIs as well as what we consider to be among the key outcomes or results of the CIVICA Research project alongside an explanation of how we will practically apply and/or exploit them beyond the lifespan of the CIVICA Research project, thereby demonstrating the long-term impact of CIVICA Research.
D1.1 Organization of snowball seminars
D1.2 Final report on the research strategy
D1.3 Set up of the Scientific Advisory Board
D1.4 Organization of hackathons
D1.5 Organization of the pilot calls
D1.6 Evaluation report
D1.7 Activity updates (D1.1 D1.4 D1.5)
WP2: 7/7 deliverable reports successfully completed
D2.1 Common catalogue of academic trainings
D2.2 Launch of innovative research methods workshops
D2.3 Launch of Excellence Tours
D2.4 Recommendations for a fully operational course fair
D2.5 Launch of multi-site Postdoctoral Scheme
D2.6 Report on best HR practices to accelerate transformation of policies
D2.7 Evaluation report
WP3: 9/9 deliverable reports successfully completed
D3.1 Feasibility study of a CIVICA video conferencing software application
D3.2 Feasibility study for collective subscribing to the major bibliographical databases
D3.3 Recommendations on shared library services
D3.4 Report on joint archival policies
D3.5 Feasibility study of an experimental lab
D3.6 Online platform and mobile app for gaming
D3.7 Feasibility study for a shared research data repository
D3.8 Recommendations on the development of a joint research information system
D3.9 Evaluation report
WP4: 6/6 deliverable reports successfully completed
D4.1 Networks of Open Science contact points (administrative and academic staff)
D4.2 Open Science Action Plan
D4.3 Report on the data interoperability and re-use of research outcomes
D4.4 Recommendations for Open Science indicators for human capital
D4.5 Training to Open Science by design for young researchers
D4.6 Evaluation report
WP5: 9/9 deliverable reports successfully completed
D5.1 Network of research managers
D5.2 Inventory of best practices for research management
D5.3 Recommendations for cross-border doctoral training
D5.4 Doctoral rotating conferences
D5.5 Launch of test phase of the Interdisciplinary Lab
D5.6 Attendance of the Forum of European Universities (FOREU)
D5.7 Common actions defined with other Alliances
D5.8 Evaluation report
D5.9 Activity updates (D5.4)
WP6: 5/5 deliverable reports successfully completed
D6.1 Project Plan
D6.2 Data Management Plan
D6.3 Mid-term policy brief
D6.4 Final policy brief
D6.5 Closing project conference
WP7: 6/6 deliverable reports successfully completed
D7.1 Project logo
D7.2 Website presence
D7.3 Communications strategy
D7.4 Dissemination and exploitation strategy including stakeholders database
D7.5 Organization plan of the CIVICA RESEARCH labelled scientific events
D7.6 Evaluation report
Overall Results: Exploitation and Dissemination
The CIVICA Research projects encompasses 7 work packages and a total of 49 distinct deliverables. Each of these activities yielded unique results, which were then exploited and disseminated in various ways (e.g. the CIVICA Research Blog and Newsletter, the CIVICA Research Closing Conference, etc.). In our final periodic technical report (section 1.4 Impact), we outline KPIs as well as what we consider to be among the key outcomes or results of the CIVICA Research project alongside an explanation of how we will practically apply and/or exploit them beyond the lifespan of the CIVICA Research project, thereby demonstrating the long-term impact of CIVICA Research.
A number of joint activities launched under CIVICA Research tapped into the strong and existing interest for increased scientific collaboration in the social sciences and have deepened and strengthened cooperation between partner institutions. Over 3 years, a variety of engaging and concrete research and capacity building activities were deployed including (but not limited to): financing 22 collaborative projects; 8 snowball seminars and 4 hackathons; 5 Excellence Tours; a postdoc mobility scheme benefitting 11 ESRs; 2 research methods workshops; a mobile app for experimental games; a variety of feasibility studies (experimental lab, a research data repository, and more); an Open Sciences training programme; 3 doctoral conferences; a draft plan of an interdisciplinary lab; and a final project conference. The project has impact on the following areas:
a) Direct impact on CIVICA communities
- Mobility opportunities for ESRs
- Diverse and inclusive European research community
- High-calibre professional networks
- Institutional transformation within partner universities
b) Impacts beyond the alliance
- On the R&I sector
- Institutional innovation
- Strong research network
- Outreach to policymakers
- Best practice exchanges and joint lobbying efforts with other alliances
c) European and global impact
- Improve the international attractiveness and competitiveness of ERA
- Role model in European higher education
-Promote trans-European collaboration and mobility
-Strong link between research and practice
-Testbed for new forms of institutional cooperation
-Open university
- Key actor in advancing the vital role of social sciences in addressing societal challenges
a) Direct impact on CIVICA communities
- Mobility opportunities for ESRs
- Diverse and inclusive European research community
- High-calibre professional networks
- Institutional transformation within partner universities
b) Impacts beyond the alliance
- On the R&I sector
- Institutional innovation
- Strong research network
- Outreach to policymakers
- Best practice exchanges and joint lobbying efforts with other alliances
c) European and global impact
- Improve the international attractiveness and competitiveness of ERA
- Role model in European higher education
-Promote trans-European collaboration and mobility
-Strong link between research and practice
-Testbed for new forms of institutional cooperation
-Open university
- Key actor in advancing the vital role of social sciences in addressing societal challenges