In the 2020 reporting year, the Research Dossier strengthened and further developed the existing structures and strategically developed new tasks, responsibilities and expertise. Under the direction of Dr. Bea Bรถckem, the transfer to a fully operational office was made, thus completing the establishment of the Research Affairs. This consists of the Grants Office, Research Communication, Research Services Open Science, a PhD Centre and the Office of the Head of Research Affairs, which oversees strategic projects and staff tasks.
The university-wide project ยซFuture Research Organizationยป, dedicated to the structural, organisational and conceptual foundations upon which ZHdK research is conducted, achieved its first goals. In 2020, the framework for research were aligned in a broad-based process.
The University Board approved the new organisational structure for PhD at ZHdK. The aim is to more firmly anchor doctoral programmes at ZHdK, institutionally and strategically, and to develop 3rd cycle offerings. The ยซPhD Statusยป project will also clarify the terms and conditions of 3rd cycle employment on a university-wide basis.
Open Science services were also greatly expanded in order to promote an open knowledge culture. In the reporting year, services in various areas (Open Access, research data management and research presentation) also contributed to enhancing the visibility of ZHdK research.
In addition, other strategic issues serving to make researchers visible and to foster their networking were established in the reporting year, including numerous information and training events such as the ยซInternational Research Funding Lunchยป and the ยซPhD Summer Courseยป.
Prof. Christoph Weckerle, Head of the Research Dossier, April 2021