European University for Well-Being - Research

Project Information

EUniWell Research

Grant agreement ID: 101035821

DOI

10.3030/101035821

Project closed

EC signature date 11 May 2021

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 30 November 2024

Funded under

• SCIENCE WITH AND FOR SOCIETY

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 998 063,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT ZU KOLN
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EUniWell Research (European University for Well-Being - Research)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2024-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European University for Well-Being (EUniWell) was established with the goal to build a European University that embeds the theme of Well-Being in order to: leverage our shared academic excellence for teaching, research and innovation; transform our institutions; support our staff and students; increase diversity; disseminate our findings to a broad range of stakeholders; and improve Well-Being for the individual, society and the planet. Since its launch in 2020, EUniWell has grown to eleven member institutions with a shared Mission centered on well-being. EUniWell 2030: Strategy Framework and Strategy Questions has been endorsed by our member institutions and lays out our ambitions to:

1. Become a/the Voice for Well-Being
2. Become a European University
3. Become Communities for Well-Being.

The EUniWell #Research project, supported through the Horizon 2020 SwafS programme, has established a collaborative research ecosystem for the Alliance. Through this project, EUniWell piloted well-being focused activities that will be integrated into and sustained across the Alliance, and can provide a model for the European Research Area (ERA).

The #Research project had four key objectives:
1. To create the conditions for a EUniWell Alliance-wide research strategy in alignment with SDGs and Smart Specialization Strategies. EUniWell will strengthen collaborative, well-being focused research.
2. To accelerate the digital transformation. EUniWell will enable research collaboration and human interaction while (1) promoting various formats of human well-being that are available to enhance creative and innovative research, and (2) advancing a holistic digitalisation and data approach that entails human-centred technological, legal, ethical and social developments.
3. To develop a culture of Open Science where sharing, not owning, is the default mode of operation. EUniWell will promote FAIR data, data sharing and transparency within the Alliance. It will make data results available and accessible for researchers. The Alliance will establish actions that enable scientific knowledge to penetrate society, economy and policy.
4. To empower researchers to respond to rapid changes in the digital transformation, society and academia. EUniWell will equip researchers with the well-being focused skill sets necessary in academia and beyond. It will develop well-being-led research evaluation and measures of success as alternatives to traditional metrics. EUniWell will focus on (1) early career researchers and (2) advanced researchers assuming leadership roles.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The four work packages of the EUniWell #Research were designed to develop an Alliance-wide well-being focused collaborative research and innovation environment.

WP1: Next Generation Research and Innovation Cycle. EUniWell established a common EUniWell agenda that promotes well-being-led R&I and focuses on green and digital transitions, diversity, inclusion and equality. Results from the project include:

1. The EUniWell R&I Strategic Framework. EUniWell has mapped our research activities, processes, networks and infrastructures. We have a roadmap for deeper collaboration based on a shared focus on well-being in research and institutional culture.
2. The EUniWell Well-Being Incubator (WBI). The WBI supports well-being focused collaborative research. To date, 14 workshops have been supported, 13 projects involving over 100 researchers have been funded, and 7 publications have been produced.

WP2: Share and Transfer. EUniWell prepared an Alliance-wide approach to Open Science in line with the EU agenda. Results from the project include:

1. An Open Science Study to benchmark member institutions and establish a common Open Science agenda.
2. An Open Data Management Plan (ODMP) that is required for all EUniWell research projects.
3. A FAIRification Framework for the Alliance to ensure that data is available and accessible.
4. A cross-Alliance Science-to-Public Communications Programme that trained over 300 young researchers how to communicate their research to a broader audience.
5. Strategy Papers on Science Transfer and on Funding and Marketing to guide future growth in this field.

WP3: Up-skilling and Re-skilling. EUniWell developed a suite of well-being focused training initiatives that prepare researchers for a future world of work both within and outside academia. Results from this project include:

1. The EUniWell Skills Taxonomy. Through labour market analysis, EUniWell has identified skills gaps and prioritized well-being skills. The study finds that interdisciplinarity, networking and collaboration skills are crucial.
2. The EUniWell Research Training Academy has delivered well-being focused training offers to 1000 researchers.
3. The EUniWell Leadership Fellowship Programme has trained more than 20 leaders from the Alliance with a well-being centered framework.

WP4: Management. EUniWell focused on delivering project, financial and quality management, and communication and dissemination in this project. Achievements include:

1. A centrally coordinated management structure and procedures
2. Policy Briefs focused on a well-being centered approach to the European research ecosystem
3. An Overall Dissemination and Exploitation Plan to communicate and disseminate #Research activities.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

EUniWell is committed to building a sustainable, long-term European University. The impact of the #Research project in the context of the Strategic Focus Areas of EUniWell 2030 is:

Becoming a/the Voice for Well-Being
The EUniWell R&I Strategic Framework is the foundation for a shared well-being focused research ecosystem. A bibliometric analysis of our research strengths demonstrated our alignment with SDGs and EUniWell Thematic Arenas, and enables us to prioritize collaborative efforts for socio-economic impact. The Well-Being Incubator identifies frontier, collaborative well-being focused research. Open Science initiatives leverage the expertise that exists in our member institutions for the benefit of the Alliance, and enable us to share our well-being research widely. Through Policy Briefs, EUniWell advocates for a well-being perspective in the ERA.

Becoming a European University
As an Alliance, EUniWell leverages and unites its member institutions across all missions of a university. Through #Research, we have established a common well-being research environment. The WBI project on cryo-electron microscopy links facilities at one campus with the expertise of researchers across the Alliance. Our Vice-Rectors for Research meet and collaborate on mobility and shared infrastructures. We have developed a Research Training Academy that aligns with the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp). We strengthen a well-being culture through development of well-being focused KPIs on Research and Assessment and Reward Schemes. Mayors’ Meetings strengthen links between researchers, universities and the communities in which we live and work.

Becoming Communities for Well-Being
The EUniWell Research Training Academy has delivered Alliance-wide well-being training for over 1000 researchers to date. The Academy is now integrated into our broader Alliance (beyond the #Research project), and is integral to our Platform Model. Our Leadership Fellowship Programme develops leaders with a well-being mindset, and has the potential to create new research environments that attract new and diverse talents.

EUniWell 2030 Strategy Framework & Strategy Questions

EUniWell#Research Closing Event Photo Vice Rectors for Research

EUniWell Visualization

EUniWell#Research Work Package Structure

EUniWell#Research Closing Event Poster

EUniWell Logo

EUniWell#Research Closing Event Group Photo