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  • Call for Ambassadors - I wave

Call for Ambassadors - I wave

05 September 2018 - 17:00 to 05 December 2018 - 17:00


Frequently Asked Questions

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The RDA Europe Ambassadors Programme

RDA provides an open forum where solutions are discussed, and experiences shared: its community-driven and bottom-up nature ensures continuity with current best practices and integration of contributions from researchers across domains, national, geographical and generational boundaries.
The RDA EU Ambassadors programme offers up to six grants of a maximum of €7,000, targeting distinguished and well-connected domain experts who can develop a two-way communication and engagement vector: on one hand by disseminating, globally, RDA outputs and perspectives with data practitioners active in their specific domain of expertise, encouraging them to become contributors and adopters of RDA outputs and to join the community; on the other hand providing insight and practical contribution to RDA groups and activities from the domain community and organisations they represent.

Important dates

  • Application period opens - 5 September 2018
  • Application period closes - 5 December 2018, 17:00 CET
  • Notification of results - 15 January 2019

The Ambassador role - what are the expectations?

  • An RDA Europe Ambassador is a recognised domain expert and skilled communicator, serving as conduit between RDA, organisations, and the wider domain specific communities the Ambassador belongs to.
  • As an Ambassador, you take part in RDA activities and are supported to facilitate a 2-way communication and engagement channel: you will be talking to data practitioners and organisations about the work of RDA, you will disseminate RDA information via informal and formal channels; and will also reflect back from those groups to inform RDA’s future agenda, and make sure input from your domain/discipline specific community(-ies) is incorporated in the work of RDA and the RDA groups.
  • You will make an active contribution to defining and promoting what RDA has to offer to discipline-specific communities. You will carry out ambassadorial work according to a detailed workplan that demonstrates impact for your community as well as RDA. You will disseminate work via discipline-specific and general RDA communication channels, including presentations, webinars, training sessions, surveys, articles and reports.
  • Your mandate as Ambassador will start upon the confirmed successful selection and appointment and will be supported for the full duration of the RDA Europe 4.0 project (ending 31 May 2020), ideally beyond that.

Do you match our Ambassador profile? As an applicant, you should meet the following criteria:

  • Working on the vanguard of data activities in a specific research domain or cluster of domains;
  • Be involved in RDA as active member, participant, chair, or contributor to WG / IG activities, recommendations and outputs, especially in the past 12 to 18 months;
  • Operate as an influencer and have the ability to recruit collaborators across different segments of the data community, particularly your domain/discipline specific community(-ies) and your own organisation;
  • Provide a plan for your ambassadorial work highlighting how it impacts not only your community practices but will also make a significant contribution in the context of RDA. Make an active contribution to defining and promoting what RDA has to offer to your specific domain / discipline specific community (-ies) (e.g. presentations, webinars, training sessions, survey, reports, analysis etc)
  • Be part of an active data community internationally and have a good understanding of the European Data Infrastructures landscape, including initiatives such as the European Open Science Cloud; the FAIR movement; knowledge of the Open Science agenda, and how these intend to evolve in Europe;
  • Reside/work in Europe

Further criteria and conditions:

  • Previous RDA Europe Expert or Early Career programme winners can apply.
  • Members of RDA governance bodies (TAB, OAB, Council & Secretariat) are eligible for the Ambassadors programme but are required to make a clear division of roles and responsibilities.
  • People working on the RDA Europe 4.0 project (e.g. Governing and Executive Board members, seconded personnel) are not eligible for the Ambassadors support programme.

There are multiple benefits to becoming an RDA Europe Ambassador:

  • Grow your network, collaborate with like-minded people and organisations;
  • Increase the impact of your work
  • Professional growth and recognition
  • Stay updated on European research data policies and global practices, current and future developments
  • Financial and operational support for your work
  • Ambassador certificates / badges / official acknowledgement

Does this match your professional background and makes you think of the many things that you could do for your community?
Submit an application, it will be evaluated based upon the following:

  • Your profile and a summary of your previous and current activities as influencer or representative of a domain specific community, with particular attention to data-focused activities/achievements in the Open Science context (20%);
  • Statement about how your expertise and work with data and the data community in their discipline is aligned with the mission and goals of RDA (15%);
  • A summary of previous and current activities demonstrating your involvement and contributions to RDA related activities, Working/Interest groups, development and /or promotion and/or adoption of RDA Recommendations and Outputs (15%);
  • A workplan of activities to be performed as part of the Ambassador role detailing how the these will impact not only the community practices but will also make a significant contribution in the context of RDA. Reference Key Performance Indicators should be provided for macro-activities supporting impact assessment (35%);
  • Wider engagement with other initiatives and/or national activities (and the national RDA node, if applicable) belonging to the European Data Infrastructures landscape, including initiatives such as the European Open Science Cloud; the FAIR movement; and/or initiatives on defining and implementing the Open Science agenda at national and European levels (15%);
  • Evaluation will also consider the following criteria to establish balanced and diverse distribution of the grants:
    • Balanced Domain / Disciplinary representation (covering as diverse a range of domains / disciplines as possible)
    • Geographical balance
    • Gender balance
    • Preference given to candidates in underrepresented domains within RDA
    • Preference to candidates that have not already previously received RDA funding

The RDA Europe Ambassadors programme will offer up to six grants of maximum €7000 each to support work time, travel, and other direct costs.
Ambassador grant recipients will be contracted with the University of Göttingen. Before applying for a grant, we recommend that you make contact with management at your institution to discuss any requirements or constraints for receiving external funding. In case of questions related to financial aspects of the Ambassador grants, please contact Katharina Mueller (katharina.mueller@sub.uni-goettingen.de).
What costs can be covered?
The following costs are eligible:

  • Working hours as recorded in timesheets. For independent consultants or other persons not receiving a salary, rates will be calculated according to the EC rules for unit costs.
  • Travel costs:
    • Flights, trains and public transport to attend meetings (Economy fares only)
    • Hotel accommodation where necessary; maximum rates depending on the destination (details available upon request)
    • Conference fee where applicable
    • Taxi costs are eligible if public transport is not available
    • No daily allowance
  • Other direct costs where applicable, e.g. for organising events, printing dissemination material.

Only real costs, documented in receipts, without overhead, can be reimbursed. Maximum total costs covered will be €7000.

How will costs be reimbursed?
Successful applicants will be contracted with the University of Göttingen. At the beginning, an advance can be paid and real costs based on receipts will be balanced after delivery of all reports.
To claim working hours, worktime as an RDA Europe Ambassador will need to be recorded in timesheets. A template will be delivered at point of contract.
To claim travel or other costs, a reimbursement form will be provided and original receipts will need to be made available.

Interested candidates are invited to complete the online application form by 5 December 2018, 17:00 CET. All candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application no later than the 15 January 2019.

Latest update 23 November 2018

 


DOWNLOAD HERE THE SAMPLE APPLICATION FORM