Assoc. Prof. Armela Panajoti, University of Vlora, Albania Work packages 2 & 3 Re@WBC Assoc. Prof. Armela Panajoti, University of Vlora, Albania 6 Nov 2017, Sarajevo

WP2. Excellent university for the researchers Projected 2.1. University centres and HR offices reinforced. 2.2. Training of WBC administrative staff related to research services. 2.3. Seminar by EU and P1 partners on HRS4R strategy for UNI management. 2.4. Preparing and adopting HRS4R strategy at all WBC partner universities. 2.5. Training trainers by EU partners. 2.6. Revising and improving university by-laws regulating academic promotion procedures. 2.7. Plagiarism monitoring tools implemented. 2.8. Enhancing of ethical committees through legislative improvements and trainings. 2.9. Establishing links with scientific diaspora by creating and updating databases.

2.1. University centres and HR offices reinforced. Projected Bylaws to be adopted by WBC unis to improve the status of researchers and bring them closer to the more developed EU HE institutions Implement the principles of the human research strategy. Responsibilities of the existing centers and offices will be regulated, hence better service for researchers. ensure the sustainability of the project results. Actual (achieved deliverables) This activity is ongoing. UV has already submitted its report to the task leader to provide information about the current state of affairs. The HRS4R has been revised and submitted; introduced to the members of the Rectorate and young researchers

Actual (achieved deliverables) 2.2. Training of WBC administrative staff related to research services. Projected 36 admin staff (4 from each WBP university) informed about the C&C principles. A training by experienced trainers to improve admin staff competences in the C&C, provide them with necessary skills and knowledge to handle researchers’ career development issues. Outcome: 1. more competent academic staff, researchers acquainted with and educated on the implementation of the Charter and Code through the “HR Excellence in Research” process; 2. increased awareness on the matter. Actual (achieved deliverables) Training organized in Novi Sad. 4 representatives from UV participated in this training; got informed about C&C, especially about the administrative support services provided at all three EU partner institutions. Reported back home about the experience.

Seminar organized on Belgrade, June 2016. 2.3. Seminar by EU and P1 partners on HRS4R strategy for UNI management. Projected educate the management about the significance of improving the position of human research potential. representatives of the management boards educated by EU experts on the implementation of the Charter and Code through the “HR Excellence in Research” process a seminar in cooperation with the HR experts from the University of Nis. each university at least 2 representatives of the management boards (the rector and a vice rector) to participate. expected to make themselves better familiar with the principles and benefits of Charter and Code through the “HR Excellence in Research”. Actual (achieved deliverables) Seminar organized on Belgrade, June 2016. Two representatives of the highest governing body, the Academic Senate of the University of Vlora (its secretary and a member) were delegated to represent UV in this activity. Report back home.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 2.4. Preparing and adopting HRS4R strategy at all WBC partner universities. Projected designing a HRS4R strategy and presenting it to the Rectorates and Senates. consultation with the EU partners and UNI, that had already adopted HRS4R, concerning the methodology of adoption of HRS4R, The workgroup designs it making use of the comparative analysis as well as the experiences of the EU partners regarding the problems of overcoming the difficulties during the process. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV officially endorsed the strategy. The work group was set up. The action plan was developed and approved by the rectorate. The application was prepared in close consultation with UNI and EU partners, more specifically ULg. The application was submitted. The Euraxess team reviewed the application and made some recommendations. The work group worked on the recommendations in close consultation with UNI and ULg. The application was resubmitted.

2.5. Training trainers by EU partners. Projected WBP professors appropriately educated by EU experts and qualified to conduct trainings on various important topics. 4 trainings: on inter-cultural communications, researcher ethics; on research methodology; on soft skills and entrepreneurship; on teaching methodology and multidisciplinarity. 81 researchers trained in total. Actual (achieved deliverables) 4 trainings have taken place. 2 representatives from UV took part in the training at Coventry University, Dec 2016. 3 UV representatives participated in the Belgrade training at the beginning of April 2017. 1 UV representative participated in the Liege training. 2 others in the Turin training, May 2017.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 2.6. Revising and improving university by-laws regulating academic promotion procedures. Projected Bylaws regulating promotion procedures improved at WBP universities to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the promotion procedures. Designing a common template for evaluation reports. Include as mandatory some other currently not evaluated aspects (highlighted strengths and weaknesses of the candidates, co-authorship issues, mobility experiences, professional skills, creativity and independence, public impact and engagement). The average time of diploma recognition process is reduced. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV has already submitted a report about the present state of promotion procedures at UV. Suggestions for improvements have been provided.

2.7. Plagiarism monitoring tools implemented. Projected Appropriate plagiarism monitoring tools are installed for use by Ethics Committee members, supervisors, reviewers, etc. to fight the recent increase of plagiarism. All researchers informed about the possibility of using this new feature. The software made available for use also to journals published by the WBP universities. Actual (achieved deliverables) Not completed by UV yet. Difficulties will the procedure for purchasing the software.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 2.8. Enhancing of ethical committees through legislative improvements and trainings. Projected Bylaws created and adopted for rendering more efficient the work of EC. 36 members of EC (4 members per each WBP university) educated, through a training, by EU partners. Outcome: 1. better service and a more satisfactory response to setting right incorrect procedures or exercising their rights in general; 2. a much better working environment in the WBP universities; 3. having the best of researchers working there. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV and UNIKG - task leaders for this activity. A training with the participation of ethics committee members from WB partner institutions hosted by UNIKG and organized in collaboration with UV whose team helped prepare the programme, collect presentations from EU speakers and compile the list of participants. Reports on ethics committees submitted by all partners. UV collected all reports and submitted them to the project coordinator. UV prepared a final report on ethics committees along with remarks and suggestions for improvements made by all partners in their reports.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 2.9. Establishing links with scientific diaspora by creating and updating databases. Projected Alumni networks created and expanded. Links to them added on websites at all WBC partner universities Increased career opportunities. Research quality improved Cooperation with scientific diaspora reinforced. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV has completed the following: 1. A report has been prepared and submitted to UT, the task leader. 2. UV has already created the Albanian Scientific Diaspora Network upon the Academic Senate’s decision in December 2016. Information about it still needs to be published and promoted online.

WP3. Researchers trained on C&C and HRS4R Projected 3.1. Training of WBC researchers concerning the role and significance of C&C and HRS4R. 3.2. Creating and updating of databases and web sites for better transparency and information flow. 3.3. Research methodology training of WBC young researchers. 3.4. Training of WBC young researchers in various skills. 3.5. Teaching methodology training of junior academic staff. 3.6. Developing a pilot mentoring system for newly promoted assistant professors. 3.7 Raising awareness about the significance of multidisciplinary approach to research. 3.8. Preparing a guidebook for young researchers.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 3.1. Training of WBC researchers concerning the role and significance of C&C and HRS4R. Projected 900 researchers (100 per WBP university) made familiar with the role and significance of C&C and HRS4R, A one-day seminar organized at each of the WBP universities. Intention of raising awareness about the benefits of applying the principles implemented in the strategy. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV has already organized 2 seminars on the role and significance of C&C and HRS4R. 47 researchers at different career stages (mostly young) participated in the first seminar (Dec 2016) and 82 in the second (Mar 2017). They were really interested to learn about C&C and HRS4R.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 3.2. Creating and updating of databases and web sites for better transparency and information flow. Projected Email databases of all researchers created at all WBP universities. The webpages on the universities' websites offer opportunity links (job vacancies, mobility programmes, project calls etc.). Outcome: more open and easier access of researchers to all the relevant information, and to regularly keeping them posted and on time. Actual (achieved deliverables) Ongoing. UV already has an email database used for various announcements related more routinely to workplace tasks and requirements. The UV website is currently undergoing some changes and its pages are expected to be livelier and provide useful links for researchers among other things. Opportunity links are available.

3.3. Research methodology training of WBC young researchers. Projected 1800 young researchers (100 per seminar at each WBP university) trained by WBC lecturers. Two two-day seminars on research methodology. Outcome: huge impact on the quality of future research, thus benefit the whole academic community of the WBP universities. Actual (achieved deliverables) A two-day training organized by representatives of the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali” to inform participants (young researchers, interested academic staff) about research methodology and some particular aspects related to it. 206 participants attended the training, which was organized in two days (5-6. 06. 2017) with two sessions for each day. Covered different topics like problem solution, creativity, innovation, different types of analyses (SWOT, gap, Cost-benefit, PDCA) etc. Interactive form following a Q&A format.

3.4. Training of WBC young researchers in various skills. Projected Two-day seminars. 225 researchers receive training by EU partners’ experts in the following subjects: Project management; Writing research project proposals; Inter-cultural communication; Research ethics; Entrepreneurship. Actual (achieved deliverables) A two-day training at the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali”. Aimed at training young researchers in various skills. Trainers: Eleonora Pilone and Lorenzo Comberti from the Politecnico di Torino, Italy and Isabelle Halleux from the University of Liege, Belgium. 64 participants (young researchers, interested academic staff) attended the first day of the training and 63 participants attended the second day of the training. Topics: Communication skills for EU projects, CV writing, communication issues with prospective employers, project writing, project managements, ethics etc.

3.5. Teaching methodology training of junior academic staff. Projected 1800 members of the Junior teaching staff (100 per seminar at each WBP university) trained during two one-day trainings in teaching methodology. Intended to facilitate the start of teaching careers to the just elected assistant professors and give them appropriate support. Actual (achieved deliverables) Not completed by UV yet.

Actual (achieved deliverables) 3.6. Developing a pilot mentoring system for newly promoted assistant professors. Projected Pilot mentoring system created, and tested at least at one faculty (department) of each WBP university. Purpose: 1. aiding the newly promoted assistant professors to better respond to new responsibilities; 2. response to the need of the junior teaching staff to continue receiving help and guidance from their supervisors after the completion of their PhD studies. Actual (achieved deliverables) 2 established scholars, external members of the UV staff, have been appointed as mentors. Their role and tasks have already been defined by decision of the UV Academic Senate and they are already carrying out activities (mainly informative seminars) to help junior staff and young researchers too to advance in academic career. https://univlora.edu.al/en/2017/10/06/takimi-me-konsulentin-e-jashtem-te-uv-se-dr-shaban-sinani-akademik-ne-akademine-e-shkencave/

Actual (achieved deliverables) 3.7 Raising awareness about the significance of multidisciplinary approach to research. Projected Workshop organized for 50 participants at each of WB partner university to demonstrate the benefit of multidisciplinary approaches, with specific case studies of a poor and profitable research, at which also the example of the University of Nis, where a Scientific Council for Multidisciplinary Studies has been established, is offered to the remaining WBC partners. Actual (achieved deliverables) Not completed by UV yet.

3.8. Preparing a guidebook for young researchers. Projected A guidebook in English is prepared and published, with the purpose of helping young researchers at the starting point of their careers, containing answers to many typical questions related to publishing their first paper, browsing scientific journals’ databases, SCI lists, citation indices and impact factors, participation in scientific conferences etc. Actual (achieved deliverables) UV was assigned chapter 7. 2 UV staff members have already worked on this chapter. The chapter was submitted to UNIKG in July 2017. The revised version of the chapter after some small suggestions made by UNIKG was submitted in October 2017.

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