EnRRICH project

The EnRRICH project (Enhancing Responsible Research and Innovation through Curricula in Higher Education) aims to improve the capacity of students and staff in higher education to enhance the involvement of society in the whole research process.

By responding to the research needs of society as expressed by civil society organisations (CSOs) the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) shall be embedded in curricula. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Scientists are often blamed to conduct research in their ivory tower with no benefit for the public. For this reason, the EnRRICH project (Enhancing Responsible Research and Innovation through Curricula in Higher Education) aims to improve the capacity of students and staff in higher education to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to support the embedding of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in curricula. Bonn Science Shop is part of the project consortium among 12 other partners from 10 different European countries.

The project responded to the research needs of society as expressed by civil society organisations and will therefore identify, further develop, pilot and disseminate good practice and relevant resources to embed the RRI policies in academic curricula across Europe. Through sharing learning and initiating discussion and debates at institutional, national and international levels both within the consortium and beyond it, the EnRRICH project created a better awareness of, and enhance the policy context for, RRI in curricula and thereby produce more responsible and responsive graduates and researchers.

EnRRICH wants to promote responsible research in particular at faculties of natural and engineering sciences. By sensitizing teachers and lecturers at higher education institutions, students shall be motivated to engage the public in their research. The background for RRI is given by the six key dimensions ethics, governance, public engagement, science education, gender and open access. To enhance the uptake of RRI in curricula the project shall also raise awareness of the topic among political decision-makers.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The project run from July 2015 to December 2017.

EnRRICH