Research Collaboration in the Social and

Human Sciences between Europe,

Russia, the NIS and China (Global SSH)

Dr. Gulnara Roll

Centre for Science Studies, Tartu, Estonia

Centre for Science Studies, Estonian University of Life Sciences

A research centre founded in 2003 in Tartu, Estonia, with the aim of advancing scientific investigations in Estonia in the science studies, including history, philosophy, policies of science. The Centre was established on the basis of a museum of the great naturalist of the 19th century Karl Ernst von Baer.

Centre for Science Studies, Estonian University of Life Sciences

Projects:

“History of natural sciences in Estonia, Germany and Russia in 19th century”,

“Baer and the history of natural sciences”, “History of physical anthropology and medicine” "The Science and Culture of Form (1828--1928):

From Karl-Ernst von Baer to Ludwig von Bertalanffy"

“Mapping the social sciences and humanities research capacities in Europe and the NIS”

GlobalSSH

• Research Collaboration in the Social and Human Sciences between Europe, Russia, the NIS and China (Global SSH) is Special Support Action is supported by the EC under the FP6 Thematic Area 'Citizens and governance in a Knowledge-based society' Call FP6-2004-CITIZENS-6 --8.3.3 - Promoting international research and policy cooperation in social sciences and humanities. Action contract Nr. is 028997.

The Action aimesto promote international research collaboration between the EU, the NIS, and China in the social sciences and humanities

Coordinator Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study

15 partners

14 countries

Objectives 1 - 2

Provide a synthesised account of the rise and transformations of the SSH in Europe, the NIS and China in the context of the emergence of modern states and universities. Six papers on the rise and transformation of the SSH in six larger world regions: America, Pre-enlargement Europe, CEE, Russia and other NIS, and China.

Map and assess the scientific capability in six NIS countries – Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan – and China, including analysis of their status, perspectives, and abilities to face contemporary challenges- Databook on SSH macroenvironment: national and international statistics + analytical comments on macro-environmental indicators on the overall context of SSH development potential;

 

- Report on SSH institutional landscape and research policies for the NIS and China: national scientific priorities, policy frameworks, national approaches to SSH evaluation. Recommendations.

Objectives 3 - 4

Increase knowledge about the transnational co-operation between research communities in the EU, NIS, and China by identifying common research agendas between the regions 

Through a questionnaire, regional group discussions and an inter-regional working conference with researchers and research policy experts.

Elaborate recommendations for the development of compatible methods of assessment of SSH scientific capabilities in the international context Will conduct a study of how to measure and evaluate the social sciences with a focus on problems that emerge in countries which are not well represented in data banks like ISI Web of Knowledge

Objectives 5 - 7

Elaborate policy recommendations for setting priorities in the SSH within an enlarged ERA in the part of the international research cooperation between EU-NIS and EU-China research communities (WP4).

Through regional policy workshops, a conference and regular communication with stakeholders

Mobilise the SSH international collaboration

By establishing a cross-regional consortium, arranging cross-regional meetings, and in other ways creating platforms for SSH collaboration between scholars from EU, NIS and China

To disseminate the knowledge obtained

The FP6 statistics shows that even when the NIS organisations are involved in projects applications to the EU RTD framework programme under the thematic priorities, a success rate of those applications with the participation of NIS institutions is much lower and the overall call success rates. In proposals submitted to FP6 CITIZENS-3 Call, out of applications involving 31 organisations from NIS countries only 3% were accepted for funding while the overall success rate for proposal in the Call was 10%.

Challenges of transnational scientific cooperation

Low participation of scientists from the East in FPs due

- to a lack of contacts with top scientists in the West and a lack interest in the cooperation in the last ones;

- FP content is developed through a complicated EU decision-making system

Challenges of transnational scientific cooperation

Designing Databook on SSH Macroenvironment

Part I. International comparisons1. Countries, population and economic trends2. Tertiary (higher) education3. Science and technology4. Information and communication technologies

Sources for Part I:

• World Bank

• UNESCO

• HDR

• CIA - Fact Book

(printed statistical books and on-line data bases)

Part II. Mapping Countries’ SSH Capacity

Targeted countries:• Armenia• Azerbaijan• China • Georgia• Russian Federation • Uzbekistan• Ukraine

Section of Russian Federation(see the printed tables of indicators)

A. Higher Education and Training R&D Personnel1. Higher Education (ISCED Levels 5A+6)2. Budget funding of education3. Postgraduate higher education (ISCED Level 7)4. Doctoral courses5. Scientific degrees awarded

B. Science and Technology Indicators1. Organisations performing R&D2. R&D personnel3. R&D fundingOptional: 1)R&D personnel, Researchers, Publications in SSH in Higher education sector;2) S&T indicators for Russian Academy of Sciences

Sources for Part II (Russian Section)

National data sources:

1) Higher and Postgraduate Education in Russia. Moscow, CSRS, 2004.

2) Training R&D Personnel in Russia. Moscow, CSRS, 2005, 2004.

3) Russian Science and Technology at a Glance: 2005-2001. Moscow, CSRS, 2005-2001.

4) S&T Complex in Russian Higher Education. Moscow, “Nauka”, 2005

5) Centre for Science Development Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences (CSDS RAS): data bases on S&T and Higher Education.

About the report on institutional landscapesThe report aim is to provide a survey of SSH institutional setting and organisation of SSH research funding and policy instruments (including evaluation) in the target countries.

The report will demonstrate how the diversity of “types” of arrangements influences differently the research agenda-setting processes at the regional and national level, and how this relates to European research priority building.

Expected outcome: Recommendations for the development of the ERA through the harmonisation of the institutional landscapes between Europe, the NIS and China

Point of departure for the report preparation

On different levels – local, national and international – institutions guide the behaviour of actors – universities, research organisations and individual scientists in production of knowledge in SSH.

Institutions are established to respond to specific societal demands. The report will discuss issues of how the demand side for the SSH knowledge production is developed? What are the driving forces of the internationalisation of the SSH international cooperation – governments that make decisions in the context of the internationalising economy, students who express their interest in high quality education that prepares them to address in their future carrier challenges of the globalising economy?

Point of departure for the report preparation

The report will highlight the peculiarities of the national institutions supporting SSH in the NIS, China.

A separate chapter in the report will be prepared describing the European Union institutional and policy support to SSH research.

The EU institutional framework chapter will contain illustrations of the institutuonal and policy framework for a three EU member states – one old EU member state (to be selected) and one “new” member state - Estonia.

About the report on institutional landscapes

The report will include national reports on institutional landscapes for the countries included into MobilisingSSH project and therefore in the preparation of the report all the Russia, NIS and China. MobilisingSSH partners are involved who

will produce their national reports.

Countries(in addition to the EU framework description)

The report will include national reports on institutional landscapes for the countries included into MobilisingSSH project and therefore in the preparation of the report all the Russia, NIS and China. MobilisingSSH partners are involved who will produce their national reports.

– Russia, – Ukraine, – Three South Caucasus states,– Uzbekistan – For comparison – Estonia + possibly one “old”

EU member state

Proposed report structure• Introduction• Short characteristics of the countries• National scientific priorities, SSH weight • Horisontal issues• National policies to support SSH • Policies to support int cooperation• Funding SSH agencies• Funding systems, other national and international

organisations supporting SSH research• Market for SSH research• National approaches to the evaluation of scientific

capacities• Strengthes and weaknesses• Conclusions and recommendations for harmonisation of the

institutional landscapes and promoting international research cooperation

• Annex with a lists of institutions

Research institutions description for the annex

• name;• address;• internet site link;• year of foundation;• number of employees;• S&T field (general and detailed)Optional information:• Name of director;• Telephone;• Fax;• E-mail

Schedule

• Sets of questions for data sent out to partners – summer 2006

• Info collection (literature, statistics by partners) – until Dec 2006

• Interim WP2 meeting – 8 Oct 2006, Florence to reflect on data collection, agree on expert interviews questions

• Expert interviews – 5 per a country, Spring 2007

• Workshop in Estonia – 7 – 11 June 2007• Editing, completing, proof reading – until

October 2007

www.globalsocialscience.org