Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EDIRE (EQUALITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION FOR RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-09-01 do 2023-11-30
EDIRE aims to create a networking collaboration between the University Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) and four renowned research institutions in France, Italy, Ireland, and Spain, with the final aim of increasing SSST research profile, boosting its research capacity, especially in the field of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Research on EDI is almost totally unaddressed in BA, therefore EDIRE will contribute to introducing new lines of research SSST in such strategic topics for the quality of research. These transversal research areas will be embedded in an intensive set of training and networking actions addressing more in general SSST research and management capacity. The project will
rely, for the achievement of such objectives, on a variegated set of methods, such as:
1) interdisciplinarity and knowledge sharing,
2) capacity building,
3) participatory approach,
4) inclusivity and sustainability and
5) far-reaching methods for communication and engagement.
The Twinning exercise will build on an appropriate set of key actions from joint training and research paths, to bilateral meetings, to short visits to dedicated conferences and summer schools, leading to new research opportunities and joint research projects in the field. The organization of networking and outreaching activities, such as conferences, dissemination events and liaison activities with similar projects, will contribute to the visibility of SSST and of the other EU partners in the field. An appropriate set of key actions will strengthen the research management and administrative skills of SSST staff and will lead to the establishment of a new Research Management Unit at SSST.
Transferability and uptake of outcomes and outputs and sustainability after the project end-date will be favoured by final recommendations and guidelines to policymakers and other institutions in Widening countries.
rely, for the achievement of such objectives, on a variegated set of methods, such as:
1) interdisciplinarity and knowledge sharing,
2) capacity building,
3) participatory approach,
4) inclusivity and sustainability and
5) far-reaching methods for communication and engagement.
The Twinning exercise will build on an appropriate set of key actions from joint training and research paths, to bilateral meetings, to short visits to dedicated conferences and summer schools, leading to new research opportunities and joint research projects in the field. The organization of networking and outreaching activities, such as conferences, dissemination events and liaison activities with similar projects, will contribute to the visibility of SSST and of the other EU partners in the field. An appropriate set of key actions will strengthen the research management and administrative skills of SSST staff and will lead to the establishment of a new Research Management Unit at SSST.
Transferability and uptake of outcomes and outputs and sustainability after the project end-date will be favoured by final recommendations and guidelines to policymakers and other institutions in Widening countries.
WP1: Coordination, Management, Ethics, and Evaluation led by SSST University, oversees project coordination, management, ethics, and evaluation. It ensures smooth operations, timely problem resolution, and effective communication among partners. The Advisory Board plays a vital role, and the project has established a strong identity through branding and social media presence.
TUD, as the leader of this WP, oversees the WP2 tasks and coordinates efforts with EU partners. Substantive research activities within the project will be conducted by SSST, empowering them to build research capacity in EDI. D2.1 reported on SSST's data analysis regarding underrepresented groups, focusing on staff and student composition, career advancement, work-life balance, and organizational culture from a gender+ perspective. D2.2 presented preliminary guidelines and recommendations on EDI, based on findings from quantitative and qualitative research and a national consultation meeting with stakeholders in M7.
WP 3 focuses on strategic plans for enhancing research capacity at SSST. The goal is to advance scientific and technological capabilities and integrate project activities into the partners' Gender Equality Plans. WP3 was finished in M10 and it laid the foundation for scientific and technological advancement at SSST and within the consortium, aligning with European research policies and fostering excellence and innovation in EDI, GM, and GE.
WP4: "Boosting Scientific Excellence at SSST," focuses on implementing twinning mechanisms to enhance expertise for SSST researchers and managers through exchanges, training, and accompanying activities. This WP started in M10. So far we submitted deliverable 4.1 which is the plan for twinning activities, and now this plan is executed.
Work Package 5 (WP5) aims to enhance SSST's internationalization, management, and fundraising capabilities. Key objectives include establishing a Research Management Unit, organizing capacity-building activities, and providing high-level training for research management skills. The focus is on sustainable initiatives to increase external funding proposals. Bilateral meetings with partners, collaborative discussions with UniGe's Research and Grants Office, and a session with Advisory Board member Lyuba Spasova contribute to project planning. Initiatives such as mentoring, reinforcement, and detailed training courses covering fundraising, project design, management, IPR, RRI principles, and EDI are implemented to elevate SSST's overall performance in research management and fundraising. The successful submission of Deliverable 5.1 is attributed to effective collaboration and brainstorming sessions. T5.3 Mentoring and reinforcement, starting from M10, align with the plan outlined in D5.1 and internal training courses cover diverse topics crucial for research management and development.
Work Package 6 (WP6), led by SSST University, focuses on Outreach, Exploitation, and Sustainability. In Deliverable 6.1 an innovative model was disseminated to enhance SSST's research profile, particularly in EDI. Key activities include T6.1 Creation of the DCEP outlined in the grant agreement, as well as Setting up and Maintaining the Project Website, Targeted Dissemination Activities, Project Events and Exploitation and Sustainability of Results.
Under Work-package 7 Deliverable OEI - Requirement No. 1 summarized the decision to appoint Jasmina Husanović (University of Tuzla) as the project's Ethics Advisor. All required reports were submitted on time.
TUD, as the leader of this WP, oversees the WP2 tasks and coordinates efforts with EU partners. Substantive research activities within the project will be conducted by SSST, empowering them to build research capacity in EDI. D2.1 reported on SSST's data analysis regarding underrepresented groups, focusing on staff and student composition, career advancement, work-life balance, and organizational culture from a gender+ perspective. D2.2 presented preliminary guidelines and recommendations on EDI, based on findings from quantitative and qualitative research and a national consultation meeting with stakeholders in M7.
WP 3 focuses on strategic plans for enhancing research capacity at SSST. The goal is to advance scientific and technological capabilities and integrate project activities into the partners' Gender Equality Plans. WP3 was finished in M10 and it laid the foundation for scientific and technological advancement at SSST and within the consortium, aligning with European research policies and fostering excellence and innovation in EDI, GM, and GE.
WP4: "Boosting Scientific Excellence at SSST," focuses on implementing twinning mechanisms to enhance expertise for SSST researchers and managers through exchanges, training, and accompanying activities. This WP started in M10. So far we submitted deliverable 4.1 which is the plan for twinning activities, and now this plan is executed.
Work Package 5 (WP5) aims to enhance SSST's internationalization, management, and fundraising capabilities. Key objectives include establishing a Research Management Unit, organizing capacity-building activities, and providing high-level training for research management skills. The focus is on sustainable initiatives to increase external funding proposals. Bilateral meetings with partners, collaborative discussions with UniGe's Research and Grants Office, and a session with Advisory Board member Lyuba Spasova contribute to project planning. Initiatives such as mentoring, reinforcement, and detailed training courses covering fundraising, project design, management, IPR, RRI principles, and EDI are implemented to elevate SSST's overall performance in research management and fundraising. The successful submission of Deliverable 5.1 is attributed to effective collaboration and brainstorming sessions. T5.3 Mentoring and reinforcement, starting from M10, align with the plan outlined in D5.1 and internal training courses cover diverse topics crucial for research management and development.
Work Package 6 (WP6), led by SSST University, focuses on Outreach, Exploitation, and Sustainability. In Deliverable 6.1 an innovative model was disseminated to enhance SSST's research profile, particularly in EDI. Key activities include T6.1 Creation of the DCEP outlined in the grant agreement, as well as Setting up and Maintaining the Project Website, Targeted Dissemination Activities, Project Events and Exploitation and Sustainability of Results.
Under Work-package 7 Deliverable OEI - Requirement No. 1 summarized the decision to appoint Jasmina Husanović (University of Tuzla) as the project's Ethics Advisor. All required reports were submitted on time.
EDIRE aims to tackle the challenges by promoting excellence and bolstering the research capabilities and standing of SSST. This involved leveraging the outstanding expertise of the consortium's four EU partners. The strategies included: 1) establishing EDI strategies and policies as the norm for handling all academic practices; 2) advocating for Gender Mainstreaming (GM) and Gender Equality (GE) to infuse research processes and institutional bodies; 3) enhancing the internationalization and project management skills of SSST staff, both at the academic and managerial levels.
The creation of the "Office for Research and Project Activities" (ORPA) at SSST University stands out as a key outcome of the state-of-the-art initiatives. ORPA, a new research unit, underwent training and mentorship facilitated by EDIRE partners. The training sessions provided by EDIRE partners and experts significantly enhanced research skills not only within SSST but also on broader scales, impacting levels of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.
The creation of the "Office for Research and Project Activities" (ORPA) at SSST University stands out as a key outcome of the state-of-the-art initiatives. ORPA, a new research unit, underwent training and mentorship facilitated by EDIRE partners. The training sessions provided by EDIRE partners and experts significantly enhanced research skills not only within SSST but also on broader scales, impacting levels of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.