Spiru Haret University Central Research Institute USH RESEARCH REPORT 2013 2 Spiru Haret University Central Research Institute USH RESEARCH REPORT 2013 CONTENTS I. BACKGROUND ………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 II. RESEARCH AREAS – analysis of research development / areas …………….. 8 III. USH POSITION ON THE EDUCATION MARKET ………………………………………… 23 IV. RESEARCHERS WORK ENVIRONMENT ……………………………………………………. 23 V. SWOT ANALYSIS of RESEARCH – activity of the research Centres in 2013 23 VI. THE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE – achievements in 2013 (access to the database)………………………………………………………………………………………………. 37 VII. COOPERATION IN RESEARCH …………………………………………………………………. 37 VIII. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AT SPIRU HARET UNIVERSITY ………………………. 39 IX. RESEARCH PROJECTS in 2013 (statistics on categories of financing sources: proposed, financed and pending)……………………………………………. 40 X. STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF RESEARCH FUNDS (in the last 3 years) 46 XI. SCIENTIFIC EVENTS ORGANIZED AT USH IN 2013……………………………………. 49 XII. THE STRATEGY OF THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 2014 - 2020 (project)………. 52 XIII. ANALYSIS OF THE RELATION BETWEEN RESEARCH AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AT SPIRU HARET UNIVERSITY………………………….……………. 52 XIV. USH RESEARCH PLAN – 2014 ……………………………………………………………..….. 55 XV. REFERENCES (contributors, statement regarding the conformity of the information)………………………………………………………………………………………….. 55 XVI. APPENDICES (the list of appendices with links)……………………………………... 56 3 4 I. BACKGROUND In 2013, research within Spiru Haret University was conducted according to the strategic objectives and directions formulated in the Strategy for consolidation of excellence in research for 2007 – 2013 of Spiru Haret University. The strategy covered the need to integrate Spiru Haret University in the European Research Area (ERA) as well as the Romanian society’s vision on the role of science, technology and innovation within universities, also expressed both in the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation for 2007 – 2013, approved by Government Resolution 217 / 2007 and in the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation for 2007 – 2013 – a core tool for the implementation of the National Strategy. In this respect, 2013 was a sum-up year, sketching out the results of the implementation of the Strategy for consolidation of excellence in research for 2007 – 2013 of Spiru Haret University, but also an opportunity for self-evaluation following two important external institutional evaluations, namely the evaluation conducted by the European University Association, by the Institutional Evaluation Program1 and ARACIS institutional evaluation – for changing the confidence rating. The USH Research Report for 2013 is meant to be a “mirror” of the entire research work, of the progress recorded, but also a tool to assess the extent to which the assumed strategic objectives for 2007 – 2013 were attained. Spiru Haret University committed to contribute directly to the attainment of the strategic objectives defined in the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation for 2007 – 2013, approved by Government resolution 217 / 2007, and to the accomplishment of the activities covered by the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation for 2007 – 2013 – a core tool for the implementation of the National Strategy. RC – USH / 20132 aims at reflecting USH actual contribution to the attainment of the national strategic objectives. Ever since 2005, Spiru Haret University, in its capacity as a Magna Charta Universitatum signatory, has assumed the role of training its researchers in terms of observing the great balances of the natural environment and of life. To determine the extent to which such a role was assumed and implemented, Spiru Haret University conducted a work environment-related survey open for USH researchers. In order to position Spiru Haret University in the European Research Area (ERA), the following actions were implemented in 2013: As a member of Working Group 4 of Human Resources Strategy for Researchers http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/rights/charterAndCode#R of September 2012, Spiru Haret University was represented at the 1st Mutual Learning Seminar on the elaboration of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers at the institutional level, organised by the European Commission in Warsaw, between 22 and 23 April 2013, after attending the first working meeting at Brussels in 2012. Spiru Haret University was the only Romanian university whose candidacy was accepted, thus having the opportunity to contribute directly to the consolidation of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers at European level. 1 The UEFISCDI project „Ready to innovate, ready to better answer the local needs. Quality and diversity of Romanian universities”was implemented in 47 universities in Romania, in partnership with the European University Association (EUA): http://pe.forhe.ro/ro/despre-proiect-2. Spiru Haret University was part of the target group and subject to the institutional evaluation between December 2012 and January 2014. 2 RC – USH / 2013 is the Research outcome report for 2013. 5 As a member of this working group, USH elaborated two reports of great interest on the basis of the researchers work environment-related survey. • Internal analysis on the implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers; • Human Resources Strategy for Researchers of Spiru Haret University In October 2013, following a session of clarifications and presentation of additional information, the Gantt diagram for the implementation of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers was completed. It was a tool by which USH assumed specific activities for 2012 – 2015. Due to the completion of such documents, on 17 October 2013 Spiru Haret University received from DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission the “Human Resources Excellence in Research” logo which identifies the institutions and organisations as providers and promoters of a research-friendly work environment. The right to use this logo on all promotional items of the university would add value at internal and external levels both for researchers and research-funding institutions. After the enactment of the new National Education Act (Act 1 / 2011) with all the deriving methodological and procedural effects and of Government Resolution 1062 / 2011, as added in 2012, on the approval of the Methodological rules for the evaluation and classification of the national research units and institutions for certification, a realistic self-evaluation of all research-related issues - from outcome electronic statistical management, to organisation and strategic orientation – was imposed. Focussing on the attainment of the strategic objectives set forth by the Strategy for consolidation of excellence in research for 2007 – 2013 and particularly on the integration into the European Research Area (ERA), USH became an eligible partner in the Framework Programme 7 (FP7), after obtaining and validating the PIC 986311521 code and appointing the Legal Entity Representative. This facilitated the unrestricted access to the portal of the eligible partners in the 2014 – 2020 Framework Programme, generically called Horizon 2020. The changes brought by National Education Act 1 / 2011 imposed the reorganisation of USH research work as follows: 1. the 2011 USH Charter was amended. Therefore, pursuant to article 21, paragraphs 1 and 2, section 4, Title II – USH organisation structure, the CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE was the structure coordinating the University research centres from scientific and methodological standpoints; 2. the research procedures were re-reviewed, amended and subject to approval in order to comply with the new legal provisions and to meet the institutional needs in terms of quality management. This led to the update of the Quality Manual, the 2013 version covering the research operational procedures; 3. the annual evaluation of all teaching staff / researchers as well as of all USH research centres was implemented; 4. at the end of 2013, the Project Register listing in a chronological order all the implemented projects, whether in progress or just project proposals, covered 281 projects, of which 92 were registered in 2013; 5. the annual USH research publication review was conducted; 6. USH researchers entered the ResearcherID network administered by Thomson Reuters, which facilitated international visibility, communication and cooperation among researchers and the promotion of joint research projects, in order to access the funding sources; 7. permanent update of the http://cercetare.spiruharet.ro portal. A novelty was the introduction of the “ EU research funding opportunities”, “National funding opportunities”, 6 “Research mobilities – internships”, ResearchGate, ResearcherID, ORCID, SCImago Journal & Country Rank buttons to provide the researchers the necessary research-related information and for a better promotion of the USH academic community concerns; 8. the Human Resources Excellence in Research logo obtained by Spiru Haret University, the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, the Internal analysis on the implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers were posted on the http://cercetare.spiruharet.ro portal. The research work concentrated all USH teaching staff (a total of 619 tenured