Research Information System of the University of Erfurt

Standards of good scientific practice, ethical conduct in research, a thorough assessment of the impact of research, transparency in the acquisition of third-party funding, and the public dissemination of research findings are essential for addressing questions regarding the responsibility and accountability of research and its potential implications for individuals and society. Research information systems help to make research activities more transparent.

A Research Information System (RIS) is a software or database system designed to present the University of Erfurt’s research achievements more effectively and in a simpler manner to both the university community and the wider public. In accordance with the guidelines on transparency in research and science adopted in 2017 by the Thuringian State Rectors’ Conference, digital access to the raw data from research projects is also being simplified. In addition to project titles and descriptions, raw data includes, for example, publications, funding sources, project members and collaborations. On the one hand, the FIS increases the transparency of the University of Erfurt’s research activities; on the other, it facilitates the exchange of information between researchers, the administration and the public. Furthermore, research resources and activities can be better organised and managed, which simplifies the strategic planning of research and research funding.

In accordance with Section 65(3) of the Thuringian Higher Education Act (ThürHG), the University of Erfurt is authorised to establish and operate a research information system. The legal framework for the processing of personal data generated in the course of this is Section 15 of the Thuringian Ordinance on the Reform of Data Processing at Higher Education Institutions

Further documents:

Thuringia’s Third-Party Funding Guidelines

Affiliation Policy

Thuringian Strategy for Digitalisation in Higher Education

The German Science and Humanities Council's recommendation Core Research Data Set (KDSF) is a standardised catalogue of information on research activities at German universities and research institutions. It comprises metadata on

• research projects
• Graduate service
• third-party funding
• publications
• research staff
• Research infrastructure

Its purpose is to improve and better showcase transparency, comparability and quality within the German research landscape. For researchers, the KDSF offers the opportunity to manage their research activities more easily, make them more comparable and present their projects more effectively. The university administration benefits from simplified research data collection and management, which in particular reduces the workload involved in reporting and planning research infrastructure. Thanks to its standardised data structure, the core dataset also makes it easier for research organisations to exchange information and collaborate across different institutions. The FIS HISinOne-RES is capable of fully implementing the KDSF.

The long-term aim is to establish a state-wide research and innovation portal that provides fully digitalised information on research at Thuringia’s universities, thereby promoting regional and supra-regional networking amongst Thuringian researchers as well as the knowledge transfer. The project group FIS Thuringian Universities can be regarded as a key building block in achieving this objective.

Eight universities are now collaborating within the project group, coordinated by the Bauhaus University Weimar, which manages both the FIS HISinOne-RES . The project group enables the synergy effects arising from the parallel implementation of the same system to be fully exploited, even though the system is adapted to the specific needs of each university.