2nd CATALISI CoP MML Workshop: Preparing for the Future: Key Skills for Research Careers – Outcomes and Results

On March 5th 2025, the CATALISI project successfully hosted the 2nd Community of Practice Mobilisation and Mutual Learning (MML) workshop, titled “Preparing for the Future: Key Skills for Research Careers”. Organized and facilitated by APRE with the support of EY, the workshop achieved significant results in terms of engagement and knowledge-sharing. In fact, the online event brought together members of the CATALISI Community of Practice together with more than 80 participants from over 50 organizations around Europe, representing mainly academia but also the whole quadruple helix (industry, public sector, civil society).  

Starting from the assumption that the labour market landscape is continuing to evolve and that researchers need to enhance their transversal skillset to meet the labour market needs and to improve their competitiveness, the event has been the occasion to share knowledge on the transversal skills most critical and most required by the employers and to reflect on potential actions to help Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in rethinking their investments in education and training to better prepare researchers for future challenges and opportunities. 

Insights from the Predictive Study on Transversal Skills

Following an introduction to the CATALISI project made by the coordinator APRE (Laura Mentini & Stefania Laneve), the workshop featured a presentation by Suhida Dermani, Senior Consultant at EY. Key findings were shared from the recent Predictive Study on Transversal Skills Development, conducted within the CATALISI project. Starting from the competences mapped by the ResearchComp, this study, designed to accelerate universities’ efforts in reshaping researcher training to align with future labour market needs, highlighted both the strengths and gaps in current transversal skills. Through a forecasting analysis, the study identified the key competencies researchers will need over the next five years: 

  • Digital & AI literacy – Mastery of AI-driven research tools, big data, and automation. 
  • Entrepreneurial & innovation skills – Competence in securing funding, research commercialization, and technology transfer. 
  • Interdisciplinary & cross-sectoral collaboration – Ability to work across disciplines and industries. 
  • Policy and public engagement – Active participation in science policy discussions, Open Science, and public dissemination. 

 

Showcasing Good Practices and key insights from other EU Projects

The second part of the workshop featured inspiring initiatives from other Horizon Europe projects, specifically CARDEA and PATTERN. These projects provide valuable examples of how EU-funded initiatives are working to enhance researcher career development beyond academia and bridge existing gaps in transversal skills training. 

  • PATTERN Project: Alessio Livio Spera, Project Coordinator, and Kristian Nielsen, Associate Professor at Aarhus University, introduced ongoing efforts to develop training opportunities in transferable skills. The speakers  also shared key findings from a mapping exercise on open learning opportunities in Open Responsible Research and Innovation (Open RRI), identifying strengths and weaknesses in training delivery, content, and target audiences. 
Co-Creating Policy recommendations for Future Skills Development

The final part of the workshop featured a policy co-creation exercise, where participants engaged in group discussions to identify future researchers’ skills requiring further investment from HEIs. The discussions particularly emphasized the need to still enhance researchers’ capacity to: 

  • Manage projects effectively; 
  • Conduct interdisciplinary research; 
  • Perform research with societal impact; 
  • Improve digital and AI literacy; 
  • Work collaboratively in teams; 
  • Develop critical thinking skills. 

Participants also identified key challenges for HEIs in skills development related to: 

  1. Organizational and cultural barriers (e.g. lack of understanding of transferable skills; challenges in interdisciplinary collaboration and language barriers; retaining research talent and managing research roles), 
  2. Financial constraints (g. Insufficient funding for skill development and open-access research; Universities struggle to secure independent financial resources; Precarity of research careers and lack of sustainable funding sources), 
  3. Infrastructural and policy limitations (g. lack of digital competency among PhD supervisors; limited resources, trainers, and structural support for research; policy and regulatory constraints dictated by higher management and government decisions). 

The co-creation session concluded with a set of concrete actions to overcome these challenges, ensuring that HEIs can continue to invest in the development of critical transversal skills for researchers: 

  1. Improved Training & Resources (e.g. centralized collection of available EU-funded training; Individualized training plans for researchers; Increased financial support from national and EU authorities)
  2. Structural & Institutional Support (e.g. Strategic research funding within universities; more stakeholder engagement and clear role definitions; enhancing recognition and accreditation of skills acquired outside HEIs).
  3. Sustainable Financial Strategies (e.g. Shift towards institutional funding for long-term sustainability; core-funded research careers and support for researcher retention).
  4. Cultural & Policy Adaptation (e.g. Encouraging collaboration across disciplines; prioritizing quality over quantity in research publications; strengthening networking between universities to share resources). 

With its strong engagement and valuable outcomes, the second CoP MML workshop  marked another successful step for the CATALISI project in supporting the transformation of research careers and higher education systems across Europe.  

 

Research Careers and Talent Retention: Insights from the Webinar

Last week, a panel of three distinguished speakers shared insights into the challenges and strategies related to research careers, talent attraction, and retention in Europe. The discussion focused on institutional approaches to supporting researchers at different career stages, with particular attention given to regional initiatives. Below is a summary of the key points presented by each speaker. 

First Speaker: Dario Pellizzon, Head of Research & Libraries, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Dario explored the critical issue of international researcher mobility and the efforts undertaken by Ca’ Foscari University in Venice to attract and retain top research talent. Despite being globally recognised as a tourist destination rather than a research hub, the university has implemented long-term policies to strengthen its position in the international academic landscape.  

Europe faces a significant challenge in researcher mobility, with many highly skilled individuals leaving for the United States, as well as countries like Canada, Australia, and Japan. Ca’ Foscari University has embedded talent attraction and retention into its core institutional strategies. To establish itself as a research destination, Ca’ Foscari University has: 

  • HR Excellence in Research certification: a prestigious recognition from the European Commission that ensures high-quality research conditions and fair treatment of researchers.  
  • ERC Grants: Since securing its first European Research Council (ERC) Grant in 2010, Ca’ Foscari has seen a steady increase in successful applicants, with 30 ERC grantees currently affiliated with the institution.  
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships: welcoming over 200 researchers under this programme.  
  • Increased Research Funding: The success in securing ERC, MSCA, and Horizon Europe grants has led to a sharp rise in external funding. The university’s research income has more than doubled, reaching an average of over €15 million annually in recent years. 
  • Active member of the EUTOPIA European Universities Alliance, a collaboration designed to enhance research excellence and mobility across European institutions 

They emphasised the importance of structured career development paths and highlighted various funding mechanisms available for postdoctoral researchers and tenure-track candidates. The discussion underscored the need for increased funding opportunities and cross-border collaborations to enhance researcher mobility and career stability. 

Second Speaker: Dr. Ignasi Salvado-Estivill, Director of OPERA, Alianza 4 Universidades

The second speaker discussed strategies for integrating researchers into industry and bridging the gap between academia and the private sector. They stressed the importance of transferable skills and industry partnerships, which allow researchers to diversify their career prospects beyond traditional academic roles. Additionally, they explored initiatives aimed at fostering innovation through collaborative projects between universities and companies, ensuring that research has practical applications in real-world settings. 

Key data were shared about the success of these universities in Horizon Europe, particularly within Pillar 1. The statistics highlighted a strong performance in securing ERC grants and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, demonstrating their research excellence and international competitiveness. 

A major focus of the presentation was Manuel Heitor’s report for the European Commission, which analyses past and present EU research programmes and introduces the “Choose Europe” concept. This initiative aims to attract and retain talent within Europe, particularly by capitalising on shifts in the global research landscape, such as changes in the United States. 

The discussion also covered mobility trends, with data confirming ongoing brain drain from Southern and Eastern Europe towards Northern and Western Europe. Specific European regions, including Catalonia, were identified as strong attractors of talent, suggesting that their institutions might serve as models for best practices in research recruitment and retention. 

Third Speaker: Francisco Javier Rubio Pomar, Director, ARAID

The third speaker introduced ARAID, a non-profit foundation established in 2005 by the government of Aragón. AR functions as an umbrella institution with a primary mission of attracting researchers to the region. While the foundation also engages in science communication, its core activity is launching annual calls for research positions. 

Currently, ARAID has an open international call for candidates with a consolidated track record, accepting applications until mid-March. Research fields covered include medical technologies, industrial decarbonisation, biotechnology, quantum technologies, and computer sciences. 

CATALISI Partner UCC Providing Global Leadership on Impact Assessment

University College Cork (UCC) is one of eleven partner organizations in the Horizon Europe funded project CATALISI – Catalysation of institutional transformations of Higher Education Institutions. The project seeks to accelerate change in Research Capacity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through acceleration services and targeted transformation pathways and interventions.

UCC is leading the CATALISI evaluation and impact assessment, supporting the participating HEI’s with a Theory of Change approach to evaluate their interventions and indeed their overall impact. UCC is a global leader on impact oriented research and innovation, and was placed 8th globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings in 2021.

UCC recently published (December 2024) an Economic and Societal Impact Report UCCEconomicandSocietalImpact2024.pdf, which is an assessment of the impact of UCC’s activities in its region, nationally and internationally. This peer reviewed report and the methodologies its uses, intersects and aligns well with the impact focus at the core of the CATALISI initiative.

The analysis reflects best practice applied in other impact studies of universities and higher education institutions in Ireland, and more broadly including the UK. The results confirm the significant and growing social and economic impacts of UCC locally, nationally and globally.

Professor Mike Danson, Professor Emeritus of Enterprise Policy, Heriot-Watt University and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (External Reviewer)

The UCC Report offers a high-level framework or exemplar for others across the CATALISI Network, European University Alliances and HEI’s submitting to the Times Higher Education World University Impact Rankings, on how to capture the economic and societal impact of their higher education institutions. 

On behalf of the UCC Catalisi Team including Dr. Martin Galvin, Dr. David O’Connell, Ciara O’Halloran, Matteo Pallocca.

For more information, please contact: david.hogan@ucc.ie
David Hogan
UCC Data & Institutional Research Officer, UCC Strategic Planning & Institutional Research

Catalysing Innovation: Twinning & MML Exchange at University College Cork

On November 13th and 14th, University College Cork (UCC) hosted Twinning & Mobilisation and Mutual Learning (MML) Exchange as part of the CATALISI project. This gathering brought together CATALISI HEIs: Kaunas University of Technology, Amsterdam School of Medical Sciences, and Universitat Jaume I as well as internal and external stakeholders of University College Cork who have been engaging on UCC’s CATALISI journey over the past two years.

MML Workshop: Learning about Financial Sustainability in Research

CATALISI MML workshops aims to share knowledge among representatives from different universities. The UCC team is committed to addressing “Sustainability in Finance” within CATALISI’s intervention areas and presented their plan for accelerating change at UCC. Feedback was obtained from the other HEIs and university stakeholders. The UCC Team see research, education, and policy influence as interconnected elements that can drive societal progress and economic growth. Their aim is to transform HEIs towards a more financially sustainable research and innovation ecosystem.

Main takeaways

  • Explore the topic of financial sustainability in research. 
  • Identified potential income streams and funding opportunities for UCC and other partners. 
  • Shared strategies for attracting and retaining research talent. 

  • Analysed diverse financial and policy landscapes to inform sustainable strategies.

Exploring Twinning: Building a Culture of Co-Creation and Engagement

The Twinning event is about sharing experiences, best practices and innovative ideas between CATALISI universities in the topics of: 

  • Open Science: It aims to make scientific research, data, and outputs accessible to everyone—whether researchers, policymakers, businesses, or citizens. 
  • Third Mission: This mission focuses on universities fostering interactions between education, industry, and society to create positive social, economic, and cultural impacts. 
  • Societal Engagement: The active participation of universities and research institutions with society to address real social challenges 
  • Integrity and Ethics: principles and practices that ensure honesty, accountability, and fairness in academic and scientific research. 

Highlights from the Twinning Event 

  • Dialogue sessions addressed Open Science, Societal Engagement, and Integrity & Ethics. 
  • Potential collaborations emerged, such as creating shared surveys on research integrity and exploring joint initiatives to align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
  • Participants identified opportunities to leverage Erasmus+ for cross-institutional knowledge exchange and foster transnational themes from local action plans.

Transforming Higher Education Institutions with CATALISI

These events are organized in the context of the CATALISI Capacity building and outreach Acceleration service and are designed to support HEIs with the skills and strategies needed to develop transformative approaches aligned with Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles. 

It was a successful event and will contribute positively to UCC’s change journey and to the delivery of the overall mission of CATALISI in 2025 and beyond

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Open Living Lab Days 2024- CATALISI Side Event  Opening universities to Stakeholders through Living Labs for Institutional transformation 

Open Living Lab Days 2024- CATALISI Side Event  Opening universities to Stakeholders through Living Labs for Institutional transformation 

Introduction

The Open Living Lab Days 2024 hosted a CATALISI side event titled “Opening Universities to Stakeholders through Living Labs for Institutional Transformation”, held on September 24th, 2024, in Timișoara, Romania. This workshop was organized in response to the growing challenges that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) face in engaging with external stakeholders. The session aimed to co-develop strategies to foster stakeholder collaboration and enhance the accessibility of universities, aiming to support mutually beneficial transformations within academic institutions across Europe. 

Workshop Description

Following presentations on the CATALISI project and the Acting Living Lab, one of the acceleration services embraced by the project, the workshop focused on exploring innovative approaches to open universities to external stakeholders and facilitate institutional transformation, particularly within the CATALISI context. Building on the accessibility challenges identified within HEIs, the session aimed to foster collaboration through Living Lab methodologies. 

Participants engaged in discussions to share insights on effective stakeholder engagement strategies. Through an interactive exercise, they examined challenges and developed actionable recommendations for enhancing HEIs’ accessibility and stakeholder engagement. 

The workshop also provided an opportunity for the UVT Green and Mobility Living Lab, hosted by the University of Timișoara, co-host of the Living Lab Days in Timișoara, to share its best practices and successful engagement strategies. This local living lab example, hosted by the university of Timisoara, offers valuable and applicable insights for the CATALISI project as universities adopt the living lab approach in their institutional transformations. 

Workshop key outcomes: Strategy for External Stakeholder Engagement 

The key outcomes of this strategy were co-developed by participants to address the three main challenges related to external stakeholder engagement, as identified by CATALISI Higher Education Institutions during the CATALISI project. These challenges centered around communication, alignment on priorities, and resource utilization. The following strategy provides a structured framework to overcome these obstacles, enabling HEIs to engage more effectively with external stakeholders and foster mutually beneficial collaborations. 

  1. Communication
  • Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis: Begin by identifying relevant stakeholders, including students, faculty, industry partners, policymakers, community members, and NGOs. Categorize stakeholders based on influence and interest using a prioritization matrix, ensuring targeted and effective engagement. 
  • Effective Communication Strategy: Develop a tailored communication plan for each stakeholder group, using accessible language that aligns with stakeholders’ cultural and professional contexts. Avoid jargon and ensure clarity in all messaging. 
  • Address Translation and Language Barriers: To foster inclusivity, provide translations or use simplified language when necessary. This ensures that language differences do not hinder engagement, especially with community-based or international stakeholders. 
  • Build Trust through Active Listening: Foster open, transparent communication by listening attentively to stakeholders’ feedback, demonstrating empathy, and responding to their needs. Regular updates and open dialogue reinforce trust and credibility over time. 
  • Feedback Loops for Continuous Improvement: Create structured feedback loops that allow stakeholders to share their input regularly. This continuous communication enables iterative improvements in engagement approaches, keeping efforts aligned with stakeholders’ evolving needs. 
  1. Alignment on Priorities
  • Clarify Mutual Goals and Value Propositions: Start each engagement by establishing a shared understanding of mutual goals and the unique value each stakeholder and the university bring to the collaboration. Use insights from stakeholder mapping to align on priorities. 
  • Collaborative Problem Definition: Engage stakeholders in defining core challenges or problems collaboratively. This participatory approach ensures that projects are grounded in real needs, fostering commitment to common objectives. 
  • Regular Needs Assessment and Priority Setting: Conduct focus groups, surveys, and interviews to continuously assess stakeholder needs and priorities. Update this information regularly to ensure ongoing alignment and relevance. 
  • Iterative Approach for Continuous Alignment: Use an iterative process to validate progress and ensure alignment at each stage. Regular check-ins and dialogue allow for adaptive changes in goals and approaches, keeping the project relevant and responsive to stakeholder input. 
  1. Resource Utilization
  • Leverage University as a Living Lab: Treat the university as a dynamic living lab by identifying and mobilizing internal resources, such as departmental expertise and infrastructure, that can enhance stakeholder engagement efforts. This approach fosters a collaborative environment and provides a foundation for innovation. 
  • Optimize Resource Allocation through Stakeholder Prioritization: Use insights from the stakeholder mapping to prioritize resources for high-impact groups. For lower-priority stakeholders, consider lighter engagement methods (e.g., periodic updates) to balance resource distribution effectively. 
  • Promote Technology Transfer and Open Science: Facilitate technology transfer and encourage open science practices, using the university’s research and innovations to build collaborative partnerships with stakeholders. 
  • Internal Training Programs: Develop training programs focused on open science, stakeholder engagement, and technology transfer to empower university departments to engage more effectively. 
  • Technology Transfer: Share research advancements and technological innovations with stakeholders to support their needs and foster a knowledge-based collaboration. 
  • Cross-Departmental Learning and Cross-Fertilization of Ideas: Encourage interdepartmental collaboration to create a network of support for engagement activities. Cross-departmental learning fosters innovation and enables departments to adopt best practices without additional resources. 
  • Evaluate and Optimize Resource Allocation: Conduct regular evaluations of engagement activities and resource use, using both quantitative and qualitative metrics. Refine resource allocation based on findings, ensuring that efforts remain cost-effective and impactful. 

Conclusion

The workshop provided a collaborative space for developing this comprehensive strategy, addressing the primary challenges of external stakeholder engagement identified by HEIs during the CATALISI project. By focusing on effective communication, alignment on shared priorities, and strategic resource utilization, participants co-created an adaptive approach to enhance engagement practices within universities. Through shared insights on stakeholder mapping, continuous needs assessment, trust-building, and iterative improvement, the workshop empowered participants to build stronger, more collaborative partnerships. These outcomes support universities in enhancing accessibility, fostering mutual understanding, and ensuring sustainable engagement with external stakeholders. 

Redefining Research Excellence: Predictive study on future transversal skills for researchers

Redefining Research Excellence: Predictive study on future transversal skills for researchers

In today’s world, where the demands on researchers are constantly evolving, the skills they acquire during their academic journey are becoming more essential than ever. It’s no longer enough to be an expert in a specific field; success now centers on a broader set of competencies, such as communication, collaboration, effective project management, and societal impact. Traditional academic training has long focused on specialized knowledge, often overlooking the broader skills needed in today’s job market. As researchers find themselves working across disciplines and engaging with sectors beyond academia, there’s a pressing need to equip them with skills that extend beyond their immediate field of study.

Recognizing these shifting expectations, the CATALISI project, through one of its Acceleration Services, conducted a predictive study on skills anticipation. The goal was to evaluate how well Europe’s young researchers are being equipped for the future and to identify critical areas where further development is needed, helping Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) better prepare their students and young researchers for successful careers in a variety of fields.

Methodology and Key Findings

The study, led by the EY Advisory team in collaboration with a consortium of European universities and research institutions, utilized a comprehensive methodology, reaching over 1,700 young researchers (R1 and R2) with more than 820 respondents from across Europe who participated in detailed surveys to assess their own transversal skills and competencies. To gain deeper insights, the study also included interviews with more than 50 academic leaders, such as vice rectors and research supervisors, who provided valuable perspectives on the strengths and shortcomings of current training programs. Additionally, the study analyzed job postings through advanced text mining techniques to identify the most trend skills in the job market and evaluate how well these align with the training that young researchers receive during their doctoral studies.

To guide and shape our study and recommendations for this study we utilized the European Competence Framework for Researchers, (ResearchComp). ResearchComp provides a comprehensive structure for identifying and nurturing the essential transversal competencies required during a researcher’s career. The framework categorizes these transversal competencies into seven key areas: cognitive abilities, self-management, teamwork, research execution, research management, research tool management, and impact creation. By focusing on these areas, the study aimed to ensure that researchers are well-equipped to contribute effectively to both academic and non-academic sectors. This approach allowed us to identify specific gaps and opportunities for enhancing researcher training and professional growth.

Significant Insights from the Study

The predictive study revealed several important findings that gave important insights on both the strengths and weaknesses of young researchers in Europe:

  • Strengths in Cognitive and Technical Skills: Young researchers typically display strong cognitive abilities, such as critical thinking and analytical reasoning, which are foundational to their research roles. These skills are essential for conducting rigorous research and advancing knowledge in their fields.
 
  • Gaps in Interpersonal and Project Management Skills: Despite their technical expertise, many researchers struggle with interpersonal skills. Areas like teamwork, effective communication, and project management are often underdeveloped, even though these skills are increasingly valued in both academic and non-academic settings. The study found that these gaps can impact the researchers’ ability to collaborate effectively, manage multidisciplinary projects, and communicate their findings to non-specialist audiences.
 
  • Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurial Thinking: The study highlighted a growing demand for digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills. As digital tools and technologies become more important to research, proficiency in data analytics, digital communication, and online collaboration platforms is essential. Moreover, the ability to think entrepreneurially, whether it’s about commercializing research findings or applying innovative solutions to real-world problems, is increasingly seen as a critical competency. However, many young researchers are not receiving sufficient training in these areas, putting them at a disadvantage in a competitive job market.
 
  • Mismatch Between Academic Training and Employer Expectations: One of the most important findings of the study was the mismatch between the skills emphasized in doctoral programs and those expected by employers, particularly in non-academic sectors. Employers are looking for candidates who can not only conduct high-quality research but also manage projects, engage with policy frameworks, and work effectively across disciplines. Unfortunately, these competencies are not always prioritized in current academic training programs.

Recommendations for Higher Education Institutions

Based on the study’s findings, several key recommendations were made for HEIs, with the main focus:

  • Integrate Comprehensive Digital Skills Training: As digital tools become central to research, it is important for HEIs to include advanced digital skills training into their doctoral programs. This should go beyond basic computer literacy, including training in data analytics, digital communication, and the use of digital platforms for research collaboration and dissemination.

  • Promote Entrepreneurial Mindsets: HEIs should encourage entrepreneurial thinking by providing opportunities for researchers to learn about innovation management, intellectual property rights, and the commercialization of research. This can be achieved through workshops, mentoring programs, and partnerships with industry.

  • Foster Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Given the complexity of today’s global challenges, it is essential for researchers to be able to work across disciplines. HEIs should create more opportunities for interdisciplinary projects and collaborations, fostering a holistic approach to problem-solving that is crucial for addressing multifaceted societal issues.

  • Enhance Training in Project Management and Communication: To bridge the gap between academic training and the demands of the job market, HEIs should place a stronger focus on developing interpersonal and project management skills. This includes training in leadership, team dynamics, and effective communication strategies that enable researchers to convey their ideas clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences.

  • Align Academic Programs with Market Needs: Finally, HEIs must ensure that their training programs are aligned with the evolving needs of the job market. This can be achieved through ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders, regular reviews of curriculum content, and the integration of skills assessments that mirror those used in the hiring processes of non-academic employers.

By implementing these recommendations, Higher Education Institutions can better prepare the next generation of researchers for the dynamic and evolving landscape of the global job market. Equipping young researchers with a broad range of transversal competencies will not only enhance their career prospects but also ensure that they can contribute meaningfully to addressing the complex challenges of our time. The future of research excellence lies in adaptability, collaboration, and the ability to translate knowledge into impactful solutions, and it starts with a comprehensive rethinking of how we train and support our researchers today.

First CATALISI Community of Practice (CoP) workshop!

First CATALISI Community of Practice (CoP) workshop!

Institutional changes are needed to reform the most important priorities and challenges for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) regarding institutional transformations towards the future.

With this in mind, the CATALISI supports seven European HEIs to pursue institutional transformation by intervening in specific domains through the adoption of targeted acceleration services. The CATALISI Community of Practice (CoP) is one of the acceleration services provided within the project. The CoP is composed of a group of people who share common interests, valuable expertise and experience in institutional transformation in HEIs, and that can feed the project activities with relevant expertise, methods, stories, tools, for the transformation of Higher Education Institution’s governance.

First CoP workshop will be held on November 7, 2023 (15:00-17:00 CET). The aim of this first CoP workshop is to share knowledge and experience between professionals and experts of the field of institutional transformation with the objective to: 

1) build collective knowledge around the topic of institutional transformation of HEIs in shared domains of interest 

2) provide advice, guidance and new ideas to CATALISI Higher Education Institutions, ultimately contributing to the acceleration of transformation in the governance of HEIs in different areas of intervention.


Selected speakers will focus on sharing their experiences and inspirational stories in institutional transformations of HEIs, by focusing on the following aspects:

  • Introduction to their project and domain of intervention
  • Good practices, approaches and strategies adopted to achieve institutional transformations in the R&I area
  • Obstacles and challenges faced to achieve transformative actions, how were these solved?
  • Recommendations to HEIs when facing institutional transformations.

Interested to join the first Community of Practice workshop? 
Sign up here!

How to boost open science in Spain: the new National Open Science Strategy (ENCA)

In 2023 the National Open Science Strategy (ENCA) was published in Spain. This strategy sets a series of measures and goals (promotion and strengthening of transparency, quality and reproducibility of research results) that have been promoted in the European Union for years, most recently through the European Research and Innovation Area. These issues are addressed by the ENCA with the aim of facilitating and promoting the creation of a national open science policy in Spain, also adapted to the international context. The ENCA has been developed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation through the General Secretary for Research, which created the Open Science Commission (OSC) at the end of 2018, coordinated by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).

The importance of this strategy lies in the current way the scientific publication system functions. Currently, an important part of the gold open-access journals in which researchers have been encouraged to publish offer the possibility to do so in open access on the condition that researchers pay up to EUR 9,500. Money that has been generally covered by public funding. In addition to this, peer reviews are done by the researchers themselves for free. This way, researchers, and ultimately universities, have been moved to participate in a system where private entities are paid to allow access to knowledge that universities themselves produce, often, at least in Spain, with public funding. However, it is increasingly common for universities to have their own repositories where researchers upload their articles in open access.

The way in which scientific journals are being financed makes access to academic knowledge difficult. The ENCA seeks to alleviate these problems through a multidimensional approach to open science. Thus, six dimensions are distinguished around the concept of open science and its strategic implementation: open access to research results; open data, protocols and methodology; the creation of open source platforms; open peer review; the promotion of citizen science and the creation of new indicators for research assessment.

This way, the aim of ENCA is to address the question of researchers’ access to previous results and reflections so they can contrast and enrich their own studies. The actions promoted through this strategy can also derive into a transformation in the logics governing the assessment system within the research community: not only will it matter the journal’s impact factor when evaluating the worth of an article, but also how the reflections and results provided can contribute to generating knowledge with a positive impact on society.

The CATALISI project, in its implementation at Universitat Jaume I, seeks to develop interventions along the lines of ENCA. In addition to the funding of diamond journals[1] already being done at UJI, CATALISI aims to: promote the recognition of the use of public repositories as a good research practice and add peer reviewing in open access journals as a good practice in researcher assessment. Here it is worth highlighting the importance of mutual learning in the promotion of a sustainable open science, something promoted among CATALISI partners.

 

By: Carlota Carretero García, UJI

 

 

[1] Journals where all papers are open access and neither the readers or the authors need to pay for the publication.

Towards Sustainability of Research and Innovation – CATALISI workshop at UCC

Towards Sustainability of Research and Innovation - CATALISI workshop at UCC

Over 40 stakeholders from across the quadruple helix come together in Cork for a full day workshop to examine what’s needed to support sustainable and best practice research and innovation in the City and region.  

Aligned to the University College Corks Institutional Strategy, the EU Horizon Europe CATALISI initiative (Collaboration, Action, Transformation, Adaptation, Learning, Innovation, Sustainability, and Impact) invited stakeholders to deliberate on the topic of ‘Financial Sustainability for Research & Innovation’ 

University College Cork (UCC) is committed to delivering impactful R&I that addresses societal challenges; transforming research into meaningful policy; and delivering a highly skilled workforce as key enablers of future economic development and national competitiveness.  

This workshop initiated dialogue with internal and external stakeholders to explore what’s needed to accelerate transformation towards a more financially sustainable research and innovation ecosystem that enhances excellence and world-class research.  

Held on August 2nd 2023, the workshop kick starts a longer-term process for collaborating with stakeholders in Cork, listening to their needs, experience and expertise to understand the current landscape and explore issues, challenges, barriers and the conditions that affect and inform this critical area of university operations and external partnerships.  

The UCC CATALISI intervention area ‘Financial Sustainability for Research & Innovation’ directly spans two of the three CATALASI Intervention Domains: namely ‘Research Modus Operandi’ and ‘Finance’, with a strong relationship to the ‘Human Capital’ Domain.  

Framing the intervention area, UCC recognize that financial sustainability is integral and related to realizing sustainability in broader terms and within the context of a research and innovation eco-system that interacts at local, regional, national and international levels.    

In the morning, a committed and passionate group of internal UCC stakeholders focussed on university operations, while the afternoon provided an opportunity to listen deeply to the diverse perspectives of our external stakeholders.  

All participants considered (i) the local context and framework conditions for sustainable research and innovation, (ii) barriers to financial sustainability and (iii) stakeholders needs, values concerns and expectations.   

Throughout, facilitated discussions invited critical reflection on the research ecosystem and explored what’s needed to strengthen how it contributes to long-term development of Cork and the wider region, to address climate change, sustainable growth and ensure social cohesion.  

Additionally, stakeholders who were unable to attend on the day provided written inputs and many others expressed interest to engage with the ongoing work of the project, reflecting the strong local interest in the CATALISI initiative.  

As an output from the workshop, the Cork CATALASI team has collated inputs and feedback into a summary report which includes a high-level SWOT and snapshot of the current context for internal and external conditions.  This will be used as a launchpad for further engagement in Autumn 2023, where discussions will begin to ideate and co-create possible solutions and activities to respond to the challenges identified and support transformation towards more sustainable research and innovation.  

The workshop was co-led by the UCC CATALASI team, Dr Martin Galvin, Dr David O’Connell, David Hogan and Ciara O’Halloran, together with Joanna Karas from the European Network of Living Labs (ENOLL).  

Recognition of qualifications, role of the society and sustainability on campus – CATALISI workshop at UG

Recognition of qualifications, role of the society and sustainability on campus – CATALISI workshop at UG

The workshop on “Transformational Changes with CATALISI Stakeholders” at the University of Gdańsk (UG) aimed to explore and discuss the concept of catalyzing transformative changes through stakeholder engagement. This workshop recognized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility in driving positive societal and environmental impact.

With the acronym CATALISI representing Collaboration, Action, Transformation, Adaptation, Learning, Innovation, Sustainability, and Impact, this workshop brings together diverse stakeholders from academia, industry, government, civil society, and the local community. The University of Gdańsk serves as a dynamic platform for fostering dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collective action towards achieving sustainable and transformative outcomes.

All key stakeholders, both internal and external, were invited to participate in a workshop, co-led together by UG team – prof. Sylwia Mrozowska, Phd Sebastian Susmarski and Phd Katarzyna Markiewicz – and Joanna Karas (ENoLL) on June 16th 2023 at University of Gdańsk (UG).

During this workshop, participants have engaged in interactive sessions, presentations, and discussions to explore the potential of collaboration and stakeholder engagement in driving transformative changes. The focus was be on addressing pressing the three major intervention areas:

– Human Capital;

– Research Modus Operandi;

– Finance.

By convening stakeholders with various perspectives, expertise, and experiences, this workshop aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing, to inspire innovative approaches, and foster partnerships that can lead to actionable solutions and impactful outcomes. Participants had the opportunity to exchange best practices, learn from success stories, and identify pathways for transformative changes within universities main intervention areas include:

– the recognition of qualifications and research careers;

– the public engagement with and outreach to society to solve social challenges;

– the sustainability in campus.

The outcomes of the workshop will serve as the primary contribution towards advancing the strategy for addressing the three challenges. These challenges will be tackled through concrete actions and bolstered by acceleration services. The workshop results will provide valuable insights and recommendations that will guide the development of the strategy, ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to overcoming the identified obstacles. The aim is to create a framework that integrates targeted actions with the necessary support services to successfully tackle these challenges and drive meaningful progress.