For this first interim report—covering the period from August 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021—, there were nine deliverables to be completed. Additionally, we included the deliverables that we finished ahead (e.g. Deliverable 3.4) and that we have started to work on despite their due date have not reached yet (e.g. Deliverable 1.5). Consequently, the Social ComQuant has effectively fulfilled thirteen deliverables and six milestones in the first reporting period. For WP1, the first international CSS summer school in Turkey was organized in July 2021 (D1.1); the exchange program between KU, GESIS, and ISI has been initiated in January 2021 (D1.4); and workshop organizations has started and 5 workshops had been completed (D1.5). For WP2, the selection process of the exchange participants has been systematized and initiated (D2.1). For WP3, we have launched the first CSS master’s program at KU, along with introducing new courses and certificate structures in CSS and QSS (D3.1 D3.2 and D3.3); and we have been working on organizing online training modules and computational methods tutorials (D3.4 and D3.5). For WP4, we drafted a Detailed Dissemination, Communication, and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (DCSEP) which defines the objectives, target audience, and communication and dissemination channels of the project (D4.1). Finally, for WP5, which is concerned with the overall management of the project, plans of project management (D5.1) and data management (D5.2) were prepared and put in execution, and the peer-reviewed publications in CSS of the coordinating entity—that is KU—during the three years preceding the start date of the project have been listed in the Continuous Reporting Tool on the Funding and Tenders Portal to fulfill Key Performance Indicators (KPI) requirements of the Project. As for the milestones, we managed to realize six milestones in the first 15 months of the project, as promised in the offer (or even one milestone more than promised): the number of ESRs at KU in the fields of CSS and QSS is increased (Milestone 3); the number of female researchers interested in CSS is increased (Milestone 4); the first MA program in CSS and QSS in Turkey is launched in 2021—earlier than expected—(Milestone 5); the official project website has been developed along with a common graphic line (Milestone 6); a network to share newsletters and a platform to share blog posts has been built (Milestone 7); and a social media footprint had been established (Milestone 8).
