The Guild’s latest Insight Paper: “Pilots without Pathways?” raised a question about the unique nature of alliance-based research.
After an extremely rich discussion with our members over the last year and the broader community during the conference we hosted in Brussels last month, we now present four recommendations for alliances that have identified research as an important part of their activities.
1- Improve the conditions for collaborative research
Alliances are uniquely positioned to deliver on the objectives of the European Research Area. Consortia, including alliances, could drive areas such as reform of research and academic careers, the use of AI in science, common understanding of research security and other shared priorities.
2- Support researchers to succeed in grant capture
Through their commitment to long-term collaboration and experimentation, alliances are well placed to support researchers to succeed in grant capture. The diversity of alliance membership helps to create new research networks, which might trigger novel and original research.
3- Open COST to smaller-scale initiatives
European Cooperation in Science and Technology shares the commitment of the European Universities initiative to bring out both excellence and inclusiveness in Europe. We propose to open COST to smaller-scale networking opportunities to support bottom-up initiatives, including in an alliance context.
4- Develop new ways to overcome the divide between education and research
Alliances strengthen our capacities to imagine the challenges of the future, and the curriculum required through the eyes of students. Alliances can develop new bridges between education and research by transforming the curriculum experience for undergraduate students; leading the cultural change in our understanding of academic excellence; enhancing joint Master and PhD supervision and encouraging visiting scholars to offer teaching provision.
“Over the past few years, it has become clear that the structured collaboration enabled by alliances really helps drive pedagogical change. Now we seek to articulate a clearer understanding of where the unique added value of alliances is in research. Our recommendations provide a vote of confidence in the capacity of alliances to develop long-term collaboration in priority areas that meet international standards of excellence. And we support alliances being considered at the forefront of institutional changes in the context of the European Research Area.” - Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General