I.3.3. Establishing the Centre of Excellence in Social Sciences (CESS) – grants for research projects at the Centre of Excellence in Social Sciences and the Science Studies Laboratory

The indicated terms are defined by the provisions of §1 of Ordinance No. 115 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw of 1 June 2020 on the implementation of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme at the University of Warsaw.

The manager of a project funded under the competition shall act as the Main Contractor within the meaning of Ordinance No. 115 if he/she is paid for more than 6 months or as an Associate Contractor if he/she is paid for up to 6 months. Members of the research team and the people with administrative functions in the project have a contractor role, in the meaning of the above-mentioned Ordinance.

Ordinance No. 72 does not regulate remuneration rates for new employees of the University of Warsaw. When preparing the project cost estimate, the primary focus should be on the scope of entrusted duties and the principle of rationality and efficiency of expenditure.

In addition, in accordance with employment rights, every person employed under an employment contract has the right to receive the minimum wage, which is negotiated annually by the Social Dialogue Council. Starting from 1 July 2024, the lowest national (i.e., the minimum wage on an employment contract) is 4,300 PLN.

The base rates for remuneration must be approved by the Programme Manager.

When preparing the project cost estimate, the primary focus should be on the scope of entrusted duties and the principle of rationality and efficiency of expenditure.

When estimating the actual salaries of the project, the employer’s surcharges and the additional annual salary (if applicable) should be taken into account.

A possible solution to apply is to delegate an employee to the implementation of the project, then part of the remuneration will be covered by IDUB funds. Reimbursement of wages is not allowed.

Doctoral students and students may receive remuneration on the basis of a civil law contract (commission contract, contract for specific work) concluded in accordance with Ordinance No. 82 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw of 1 August 2019 on civil law contracts and on the terms applicable to the unit in which the project is carried out. Another solution is to conclude an employment contract. Only a full-time employee of the University of Warsaw may receive supplementary remuneration.

There is no such limitation.

Yes, as long as it is substantively justified. The rules of the competition do not include any restrictions in this regard.

The principles of remuneration of persons participating in research projects are regulated by the Bursar’s Notice No. 5/2023 of 1 August 2023 on the introduction of the remuneration settlement procedure for persons participating in research projects.

“Small equipment” should be understood as small laboratory equipment and other devices, if they are not included in tangible assets, in accordance with accounting rules (policy) (Ordinance No. 94 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw from 9 September 2019, on the Principles for the recognition of assets as fixed assets, intangible assets and legal assets, and the methods of their amortisation and inventory.).

In case of doubts as to how a given purchase will be qualified, please consult the persons responsible for the records of fixed assets in the unit where the project is to be implemented.

The costs of publishing research results include all costs related to the publication of research, which are necessary for the achievement of project objectives.

The costs of internal services are eligible in the competition, but they are allowed only when they relate to settlements between UW units as a reimbursement of actual incurred costs. In case of purchasing a comprehensive service from another UW unit, it is necessary to provide a calculation of the expenditures which comprise the cost of such a service. The cost eligibility assessment should be made on the basis of Annex 3 to the competition rules, and in particular fulfil its premise: a cost is admissible, provided that “it is necessary and was incurred in relation to the implementation of the project”.

The phrase “cost that was actually incurred during the project” includes all costs arising from contracts entered into for the duration of the project and covering work performed for the project, even if the actual payment of remuneration (whether from thirteenth month pay, supplementary pay, or other additional components of remuneration) is made after the end of the project. The same applies to invoices for services rendered during the project, even if the document is actually paid after the project is completed. These types of costs are therefore allowable in the project.

It is permissible to send the application:

1) in the form of a PDF file, as scans of documents signed in a traditional way; such a file may be supplemented with electronic signatures, if not all of the signatures have been submitted in the traditional form;

2) as a PDF file with electronic signatures.

It is not permissible to scan printed documents which were previously bearing an electronic signature.

The provisions of art. 4 para. 2 of Ordinance No. 279 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw from 10.12.2020, provided that the confirmation submitted by university email (referred to in the above Ordinance) clearly defines the subject of the confirmation.

The consent of the head of the organisational unit should be given in the form of a signature, in the appropriate field of the application.

It is permissible to send the application:

1) in the form of a PDF file, as scans of documents signed in a traditional way; such a file may be supplemented with electronic signatures, if not all of the signatures have been submitted in the traditional form;

2) as a PDF file with electronic signatures.

It is not permissible to scan printed documents which were previously bearing an electronic signature.

The provisions of art. 4 para. 2 of Ordinance No. 279 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw from 10.12.2020, provided that the confirmation submitted by university email (referred to in the above Ordinance) clearly defines the subject of the confirmation.

The application form does not require a description of all future members of the research team. For each member of the research team, only the first name, surname, affiliation and role in the team should be provided. The selection committee will evaluate the application on the basis of the competences of the project manager, first of all. The anticipated employment of team members during the project should be indicated in the description of planned activities. In the event that the project manager plans to recruit team members in the future, it will be enough to describe the most important qualifications of future team members and include the remuneration costs of these team members in the cost estimate for the project.

If the project implementation involves the publication of an article in a scientific journal or a monograph by a publishing house, should the application include the title of the journal or the name of the publishing house to which the text(s) will be submitted?

It is not necessary to indicate the specific titles of journals and names of publishers in which the publication of articles and monographs is planned. Identifying specific journals in which the publication of articles will be planned may have a positive impact on the assessment of the application, including whether the effect contributes to the IDUB indicators.

The cost estimate should be prepared in such a way that it is transparent and assessable to the selection committee. For this reason, it is suggested that larger costs be presented on a per unit basis.

Tak, preferowany format przesłania publikacji to pdf.

Yes, the preferred format for submitting the publication is pdf.

Yes, this is the correct form of confirmation of acceptance of the publication for printing.

Yes, both the manager of a project funded within the New Ideas competition, as well as members of the research teams of these projects, may participate in the work of research teams.

However, project managers who have not submitted reports on projects implemented as part of New Ideas competitions cannot be applicants in the competition.

Yes.

Yes.

A sabbatical leave is not an obstacle when applying to a competition, if the specific regulations of a given leave do not preclude doing so.

No, the leader of a research team can only be a person with at least a doctoral degree and employed at the UW.

In accordance with para. 8 section 6, the competition Rules, all transfers of funds between cost estimate categories must first be approved by the Coordinator of Action I.3.3. Changes among cost types within a cost category do not require consent. Changes should only be made in justified and necessary cases and must not have a negative impact on the achievement of the project objectives.

Only research projects can be co-financed in the competition.

Yes, it will be possible to divide the funds between these units in accordance with the cost estimate.