Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ReERUA (Research and Engagement for the European Reform University Alliance)
Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30
Re:ERUA, Research and Engagement for the European Reform Universities Alliance (ERUA) is the research component of one of the 24 European university alliances selected under the second call of the European Universities Initiative.
Led by the University of Paris 8 (France), with four partners - Roskilde University (Denmark), the University of Konstanz (Germany), the University of the Aegean (Greece), and the New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria) - Re:ERUA is aimed at developing a strategy for engaged and responsible research and innovation within the Alliance. The university-civil society relationship is mutually beneficial. Scientific knowledge is relevant in ensuring empowerment and equality across regions and local communities. Universities, from a reform perspective, serve as channels for knowledge transmission, reflectivity, and the empowerment of the next generation to address relevant matters of concern.
The first objective is to build an Engagement strategy. The second objective is to rethink research and innovation from the perspective of participatory and inclusive societal engagement, thereby showcasing ERUA as an engaged European University.
Led by the University of Paris 8 (France), with four partners - Roskilde University (Denmark), the University of Konstanz (Germany), the University of the Aegean (Greece), and the New Bulgarian University (Bulgaria) - Re:ERUA is aimed at developing a strategy for engaged and responsible research and innovation within the Alliance. The university-civil society relationship is mutually beneficial. Scientific knowledge is relevant in ensuring empowerment and equality across regions and local communities. Universities, from a reform perspective, serve as channels for knowledge transmission, reflectivity, and the empowerment of the next generation to address relevant matters of concern.
The first objective is to build an Engagement strategy. The second objective is to rethink research and innovation from the perspective of participatory and inclusive societal engagement, thereby showcasing ERUA as an engaged European University.
During the second period, Re:ERUA developed and confirmed its research expertise and a research strategy linked to Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and research engagement. The expert groups, with the support of the scientific council, organized workshops on research assessment and defined a common strategy for engaged and responsible research. A guide and handbook on how to conduct collaborative research were produced. All the consolidated approaches and expertise were included in two strategic documents: the Charter of the Common Research Framework Programme and the Engagement Strategy, the ultimate achievement of ERUA.
In this second period, Re:ERUA consolidated all the mapping activities and the ERUA Research Portal to showcase this research potential and encourage potential collaboration. Researchers are now able to submit collaborative needs through this portal to enhance social innovation and RRI in all fields using a tool called "Find Collaborators." Universities within the alliance are encouraged to propose calls for research projects to promote ambitious initiatives.
The initiative also focuses on Open Science, with monthly online meet-ups organized and a publication on organizing these events in Open Access. In addition to the Science Fundamental Online Course was developed, an advanced course was developed. The Open Science Ambassador Programme and a Research Data Management Study has been completed, investigating researchers' needs regarding research data management.
About the work on human capital, Re:ERUA developed on the basis of the analysis of data and studies from the first reporting period, a Charter and Action Plan for Training Programs within the Alliance. A Gender Innovation Training and Mentoring Programme was also developed, producing comprehensive modules and workshops on various topics, such as gender equality principles, gender inequality within the context of family and society, challenges related to gender inequality in the workplace, and many others. Additionally, Re:ERUA hosted a two-day Digital Conference on Gendered Innovation.
Another activity carried out during this second reporting period was the improvement of communication and dissemination, as detailed in the second communication report (D.1.9). Efforts have been made to enhance the research-dedicated page on the ERUA website, making information more visible and accessible, and to disseminate Re:ERUA results as openly as possible. Specifically, the Zenodo platform was selected for the courses (Open Science, Gender) to allow distribution to anyone within ERUA and beyond. Moreover, to make the content of Re:ERUA more accessible and result-oriented, a final report was developed that was reader-friendly and highlighted the concrete results of our project, moving away from a WP-based approach. We focused particularly on the dissemination of developed tools such as the Research portal, the courses, the training programme, the collaboration guide, and continued organising in-person events (Summit, Night of the Ideas, SWAFS event, etc.).
In this second period, Re:ERUA consolidated all the mapping activities and the ERUA Research Portal to showcase this research potential and encourage potential collaboration. Researchers are now able to submit collaborative needs through this portal to enhance social innovation and RRI in all fields using a tool called "Find Collaborators." Universities within the alliance are encouraged to propose calls for research projects to promote ambitious initiatives.
The initiative also focuses on Open Science, with monthly online meet-ups organized and a publication on organizing these events in Open Access. In addition to the Science Fundamental Online Course was developed, an advanced course was developed. The Open Science Ambassador Programme and a Research Data Management Study has been completed, investigating researchers' needs regarding research data management.
About the work on human capital, Re:ERUA developed on the basis of the analysis of data and studies from the first reporting period, a Charter and Action Plan for Training Programs within the Alliance. A Gender Innovation Training and Mentoring Programme was also developed, producing comprehensive modules and workshops on various topics, such as gender equality principles, gender inequality within the context of family and society, challenges related to gender inequality in the workplace, and many others. Additionally, Re:ERUA hosted a two-day Digital Conference on Gendered Innovation.
Another activity carried out during this second reporting period was the improvement of communication and dissemination, as detailed in the second communication report (D.1.9). Efforts have been made to enhance the research-dedicated page on the ERUA website, making information more visible and accessible, and to disseminate Re:ERUA results as openly as possible. Specifically, the Zenodo platform was selected for the courses (Open Science, Gender) to allow distribution to anyone within ERUA and beyond. Moreover, to make the content of Re:ERUA more accessible and result-oriented, a final report was developed that was reader-friendly and highlighted the concrete results of our project, moving away from a WP-based approach. We focused particularly on the dissemination of developed tools such as the Research portal, the courses, the training programme, the collaboration guide, and continued organising in-person events (Summit, Night of the Ideas, SWAFS event, etc.).
Re:ERUA has made significant progress towards its goals of fostering collaboration and innovation within the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA). Based on a big expertise on RRI under the ethics of care, our key achievements include the Engagement Strategy (D.2.8) and the Charter on the Common Research Framework Programme (D.2.5) which promote RRI research approaches across member institutions.
Re:ERUA developed a Collaboration Guide: an open-access resources designed to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and foster reflective practices
A research support network has strengthened administrative cooperation and facilitated collaboration and produced a white paper on RRI practices (D.2.6).
Re:ERUA also focused on reskilling and gendered innovation through initiatives such as the Gendered Innovation Training and Mentoring Programme, which was downloaded 700 times by November 2024, and a digital conference with international participation. Outreach activities engaged more than 56,000 people through email and social media campaigns.
In the area of open science, Re:ERUA hosted more than 30 meet-ups and developed widely used online courses that were integrated into the curricula of member universities. A six-country study identified barriers to effective data management and provided actionable recommendations. We worked heavily on building shared infrastructure to enhance collaborative research efforts, with tools such as the ERUA Research Portal.
In conclusion, over the past three years, we have created an engaged research environment and a long-term direction for the Alliance in terms of RRI.
Re:ERUA developed a Collaboration Guide: an open-access resources designed to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and foster reflective practices
A research support network has strengthened administrative cooperation and facilitated collaboration and produced a white paper on RRI practices (D.2.6).
Re:ERUA also focused on reskilling and gendered innovation through initiatives such as the Gendered Innovation Training and Mentoring Programme, which was downloaded 700 times by November 2024, and a digital conference with international participation. Outreach activities engaged more than 56,000 people through email and social media campaigns.
In the area of open science, Re:ERUA hosted more than 30 meet-ups and developed widely used online courses that were integrated into the curricula of member universities. A six-country study identified barriers to effective data management and provided actionable recommendations. We worked heavily on building shared infrastructure to enhance collaborative research efforts, with tools such as the ERUA Research Portal.
In conclusion, over the past three years, we have created an engaged research environment and a long-term direction for the Alliance in terms of RRI.