A diverse and inclusive research culture is the foundation for sustainable research careers, excellent knowledge production, and good scientific practice.

Do you have an idea for a project that can make your work environment even more collegial? Do you want to bring about effective change for your department, your faculty, or the entire university? Do you want to create sustainable structures that benefit everyone? Do you want to be an ambassador for a research environment based on mutual respect?

Do you need up to €5,000 for this? Then we invite you to become a Research Culture and Integrity Ambassador!

Once a year, the Research Careers Campus funds three projects with up to €5,000 that aim to contribute to the establishment of positive practices and disrupt the (unconscious) perpetuation of less effective practices. 

This call is open to all university members (including researchers, students, and research managers) who are passionate about research at the University of Graz.

Your project could, for example, cover the following areas:

• Scientific Integrity / Good Scientific Practice
• Peer support and peer advice, representation, working groups, buddy systems
• Supporting early career colleagues
• Culture of handling mistakes and failure
• Accessibility
• Academic kindness
• Communication
• Leadership
• Societal impact
• Welcome culture and onboarding
• Performance assessment and peer review
• Open Science
• Anti-discrimination and diversity
• and much more.

How and for what can the money be used?

Once awarded, the Ambassador Grant will be transferred to an internal department/cost center at the university and can be used as needed (in accordance with the university's guidelines). A report must be submitted at the end of the project period specified in the application (see template here). If no report is submitted or the activity is not carried out, the entire amount will be reclaimed.

Examples of possible uses of the funding:

• Commissioning external experts
• Costs for retreats, networking events, and workshops
• Payment of bonuses to individuals involved in the project who have made exceptional contributions beyond their normal duties
• Costs for student assistants
• Degree courses (Lehrveranstaltungen) on Good Scientific Practice and related areas
• ...and similar

What do we want to know from you, when and how can you apply?

Apply via this link (Limesurvey form in English). We request a description of the following points (in English or German):

• Information about the project management and the people involved
• Title of the project
• Ambition and vision for the project (i.e., needs assessment and intended impact)
• Amount required, planned use of funds
• Start and end dates
• Implementation formats
• Target groups for the project
• How the impact will be measured by the project team

(Save your answers as a Word document in case Limesurvey crashes!)

The deadline is October 15, 2025. The selected projects will be announced by mid-/late November 2025.

How will we select the projects?

The committee consists of Rectorate representatives, a member of the RCC Strategic Advisory Council, an expert in staff and organizational development, and representatives of the RCC. The decision will be made based on the following criteria:

• The need for innovation is convincingly presented
• The activity appears to be capable of contributing to positive developments in the working environment
• Awareness of best practices in the field is evident
• The idea has the potential to inspire and mobilize others
• The objective is plausible
• The planned use of funds is understandable, and the cost estimate is realistic
• The project period is clearly defined and appropriate to the project objectives
• Target groups are clearly identified
• Sustainability of the project measures is likely
• The approaches and positive results of the project are potentially transferable to other work areas or university institutions

What obligations do project leaders have?

• Must use funds in accordance with the university's applicable guidelines
• Most provide written report after project completion (template above)
• Must provide a verbal report on impacts during the RCC Annual Event (yearly in April/May) and agree to be listed on our website
• Carries full responsibility for conception and implementation of the project (this does not lie with the RCC)

Information as of May 15, 2025. Contact: Johanna Stadlbauer, rcc@uni-graz.at, ext. 1212