ACE-SCHOLAR – Foundation : Researcher Capacity
Training Programme
Duration and Timeline
- Online Intensive Training Contact hours: 25 hrs
- Duration: Summer Semester: 20 April – 29 June 2026
About the Programme
ACE-SCHOLAR — Foundation is a structured training programme open to students and staff from all disciplines. It provides practical skills, evidence-based tools, and collaborative learning opportunities to support participants in developing a strong research profile.
The curriculum covers 7 competency areas from the European Researcher Competency Framework (Foundation to Intermediate level), complemented by 3 additional topics selected by the ACE²-EU alliance. Together, they offer a coherent pathway towards research excellence.
Sessions are delivered online via Microsoft Teams by instructors from across the ACE²-EU partner institutions. All registered participants also have access to the Moodle platform, where session resources and recordings of missed sessions are available throughout the programme.
What you will develop
- Research management — project planning, resource optimisation, and open-access publishing.
- Research impact — dissemination strategies to engage policymakers, industry, and the public.
- Self-management — productivity, stress management, entrepreneurial thinking, and inclusive work practices.
- Cognitive skills — creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving for complex research challenges.
- Collaboration and leadership — inclusive teamwork, mentorship, and professional networking.
- Research tools — data management, citizen science, open-source software, and AI tools for ethical research.
- Research practice — scientific writing, disciplinary expertise, and AI integration.
- Research ethics — ethical principles, data protection, and responsible use of AI.
- Research funding — funding sources, resource management, and consortium building.
- Proposal writing — EU funding calls, proposal drafting, and alignment with societal challenges.
The Making Impact session is distributed through 5 smaller sessions from 20th April till 24th April. Exception of 20th April Session which will be held at 12:30 – 13:30 CEST, the remaining sessions will be conducted as scheduled.
Programme format and calendar
| Dates | 20 April 2026 — 29 June 2026 |
| Format | Online live sessions (Microsoft Teams) |
| Resources | Moodle platform — materials and session recordings available throughout |
| Final Assessment deadline | 31 July 2026, 23:59 CEST (submissions required to earn badges and ECTS) |
| Organised by | ARIES Incubator — ACE²-EU Alliance |
Session Calendar
| Session | Date & Time (CET) | Instructor(s) |
| 1. Making an Impact | 20 – 24 April 2026 at 9:00 – 10:00 |
Maria Barbas (IPS, Portugal) |
| 2. Research Ethics | 27 April 2026 at 15:00 – 17:00 |
Daniela Krainer Christine Dulling-Pichler (CUAS, Austria) |
| 3. Managing Research | 30 April 2026 at 11:00 – 13:00 |
Biljana Balabanova (UGD, North Macedonia) |
| 4. Doing Research | 30 April 2026 at 14:00 – 16:00 |
Catalin Chimerel (UCB, Romania) |
| 5. Working with Others | TBD | Vicente Ruiz (UFV, Spain) |
| 6. Self-Management | 12 May 2026 at 10:00 – 12:00 |
Ganesh Ramakrishna Babu Jai (THI, Germany) |
| 7. Managing Research Tools | 15 May 2026 at 10:00 – 12:00 |
Ance Kristāla, Sabīne Ozola
(LAC, Latvia) |
| 8. Research Funding | 20 May 2026 at 13:00 – 15:00 |
Mateusz Kirjak (MUG, Poland) |
| 9. Cognitive Abilities | 29 June 2026 at 12:00 – 14:00 |
Giedrė Adomavičienė (LIK, Lithuania) |
| 10. EU Funding Landscape | TBD | INNOVA+ Pedro Costa |
Upon registration, all registrants will have access to all sessions.
Award and Recognition
Upon successful completion of each session and its corresponding assessment, participants receive a digital skill badge (MLO — Micro Learning Opportunity). Collecting badges leads to formal ECTS recognition.
ACE-SCHOLAR Foundation awards Micro Learning Opportunities (MLOs) upon completion of each module. MLOs are designed to be compatible with emerging microcredential frameworks and are intended to be formally recognisable as microcredentials as the ACE²-EU alliance’s recognition infrastructure develops.
| Achievement | ECTS awarded | Recognition |
| Completion of one session | — | ACE-SCHOLAR Digital Skill Badge (MLO) |
| Completion of 5 sessions (5 badges collected) | 1 ECTS | ECTS Recognition Certificate |
| Completion of all 10 sessions (10 badges collected) | 2 ECTS | ECTS Recognition Certificate + ACE-SCHOLAR Digital Badge |
Important: Assessments must be submitted by 31 July 2026, 23:59 CEST to earn badges and ECTS credit.
Participants who successfully complete 5 or more sessions will be eligible for a travel opportunity to an ACE-SCHOLAR Researcher Capacity Training Workshop.
How to register
- Application deadline: 30 May 2026, 23:59 CEST (late registrants will still have access to the sessions starts on 20 April)
- Registration form: https://forms.gle/WWjkh7pKADLdKm5R6
- After registering you will receive an email with access to the Moodle course.
- Further information and inquiries: info.ariesincubator@e-ucb.ro
