Objectives and Background

Although Children’s Universities are acknowledged good practice examples for low-threshold science engagement and a qualified method to increase the science capital of children, a shortage of scientific assessment and academic studies has been noted for quite a while. As a global network we are very much aware of a lack of in-depth-knowledge and a quantified understanding of the impact of Children’s Universities. This situation obstructs the improvement and the recognition of this format as important element in early science communication and engagement. A great deal of both fundamental and applied research remains to be done in these areas.

To stimulate research on and evaluation of Children’s University-type activities we announce the establishment of a eucu.net award scheme for research. Our aim is to pave the way for substantial advances in the quality and the promotion of such programmes – particularly at university and college level.
Therefore the eucu.net research awards has been brought to being to support a broad range of future studies and to recognise outstanding work in research in this fields. To foster the idea of Children’s Universities even further all contributions for the eucu.net award have to be licensed in Open Access.

Who is the award intended for?

The eucu.net research award supports students’ and young academics’ theses on bachelor level, master level and PhD level. This implies that preference will be given to individual applications.

Institutions can apply, but they must provide evidence that the grant is used in favour of young academics, who would not be able to perform their research elsewise and that related costs can’t be covered from other sources. In any case, applications by institutions must include clear reference of who will or has actually conducted the research.

Applications on researcher level or post-doc level will not be considered as eligible in general. Only if no applications on bachelor level, master level or PhD level were received, they might be selected for funding, but limited to the level of a PhD reward.

Which topics can be proposed?

Submitted topics have to correspond with the overall objectives of eucu.net and relevant dimensions of social and science engagement. In particular, this includes but is not limited to:

• Methodology, concepts, didactical approaches and innovation
• Aspects of sustainability and impact
  • on various levels (individual, organizational, societal) and
  • from various perspectives (recipients, parents, explainers and tutors, students, researchers, research organisations and host organsiations, funding organisations and programmes) and
  • across various dimensions (educational pathways, organisational development, curriculum development and teacher training, research agenda and forms of co-creation, student population and labour market characteristics etc.)
• Particular dimensions of social and cultural inclusion
• History, drivers and motivation of Children’s University-type activities; enabling factors, transformation and upscaling

In general, all research is of interest, which has a focus on personal, didactical, societal and research related development and innovation raining from various social and science engagement programs.
eucu.net will set up and maintain a thematic repository, which shall serve as an additional source of inspiration for potential applicants.

How will decisions be made?

The decision on the awards will be made by the eucu.net Research Advisory Board.

Each of the representatives of the eucu.net Research Advisory Board reviews all applications which comply with the formal requirements and establishes a ranking based on the eucu.net award criteria scheme.

It is not required, that all award categories (bachelor level, master level and PhD level) are represented in the ranking equally, but also bachelor level and master level applications shall have a fair chance for funding trough appropriate application of the criteria scheme.
The eucu.net Executive Board will then compile a joint ranking which is then returned to the Research Advisory Board for an agreed final recommendation. It is not required, that all award categories (bachelor level, master level and PhD level) are represented in the ranking equally, but the funding can’t exceed an annual total of EUR 6.000.

Award criteria

The criteria scheme for the eucu.net award is based on three general aspects:

• Scientific approach
• Form
• Outstanding Quality Features & Relevance for Children’s Universities.

Members of the eucu.net Research Advisory Board have to apply the criteria schema in a way that it is consistent and plausible within each of the funding categories (bachelor level, master level and PhD level).
A detailed criteria scheme was developed by a eucu.net working group and refined if possible based upon feedback from the eucu.net Research Advisory Board.

[download the complete eucu.net award critieria scheme]

What are the donations of the eucu.net research award?

The focus of the eucu.net research award shall be on young academics students’ theses. The maximum reward for their funding application is as follows:

• Bachelor level: max. remuneration of EUR 1.000
• Master level: max. remuneration of EUR 2.000
• PhD level: max. remuneration of EUR 3.000

The grant will be awarded only for finalized research; research concepts or ongoing research can’t be awarded. A splitting of the awards is possible, while installments are not envisaged.
The maximum total remuneration of the eucu.net research award is EUR 6.000 per two years.

What are the formal obligations for the grant recipients?

In order to be eligible, all grant applicant need to comply with the formal requirements of the call.
After being selected as an award recipient, formal agreements will be established between eucu.net and the award recipients which stipulate the obligations on both side.

eucu.net is obliged to transfer the particular amount of the award to the bank account named by the awardee.
In return, the obligations of the awardee do inevitably include:

• an obligation to provide a revised summary of the thesis, which is suitable to be published in a eucu.net research brochure, which is envisaged to be compiled in regular intervals. This shall not be hindered by any third party’s (publishing) rights – e.g. publishing houses in the case of published PhD-theses.
• an obligation to present the research at eucu.net meetings or events upon invitation. In the latter case, travel and accommodation shall be covered by eucu.net. Alternatively, presentations can also be requested by eucu.net within online meetings.