It is a high ranging topic at most universities’ agenda: how to shape the commitment to University Social Responsibility (USR) and, along with it, Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)?
In addition to the need to rethink the way research outcomes are measured, there is also a need to reflect the role of universities in promoting social justice in education and research and access to knowledge and information for the weaker groups and those at risk of social exclusion. This is where the approach of the Erasmus+ Inclusive Responsible Research (IRR) project comes in.
The research tradition usually rewards scientific findings that are disseminated within one’s own circles, with little attention usually paid to social impacts. As a result, most researchers whose work is always assessed with these kinds of indicators have no reference point for classifying their work and, as a consequence, often show little interest in the impact of their findings beyond the academic field. In terms of promoting social responsibility, new approaches and forms of support are needed that go beyond theoretical analysis.
In the IRR project consortium, 3s is working on indicators, diagnostic tools and guidelines for improving the social impact of research activities with experts from Spain, Romania, Slovenia and Serbia. The findings generated in a comprehensive empirical process with qualitative interviews with around 150 research groups in the participating countries will be summarised in an online guide for researchers.
A link to the project website will be published here, soon.
Contact: Eva Steinheimer