To support a more target-oriented submission process, the application procedure consists of two stages:

Step #1: CALL FOR CHALLENGES (Closed)
by February 14, 2024
 

Submit challenges by no later than February 14, 2024. Following a review by the LBG Open Innovation in Science Center and LIFT_C, applicants will be notified of a decision by the OIS Impact Lab via a rapid response procedure by the end of February at the latest.

A challenge application must include the following content: 

• the challenge and its objective(s) 
• its contribution to the community
• the fellow's required skill set
• the time frame and feasibility
• A video: Introduce the community and the challenge. Duration: max. 1-2 minutes
• A team photo

Please note: Submit only a maximum of 2 challenges per community/association/initiative! The applicant must be actively enrolled at the JKU. Funding is not available for institutions or corporations (such as JKU institutes, the Austrian Student Union, etc.).

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Step #2: CALL FOR FELLOWS
February 28 to March 11, 2024 

The challenges selected by means of the rapid response process will be posted here on February 28, 2024, and the application period for future fellows will open. Interested fellows (actively enrolled JKU students) can apply for a challenge by March 11, 2024. The communities also have the opportunity to nominate fellows. The fellows can be selected by the communities themselves.
 

The timeframe to address and solve the challenges is between April & May, 2024.

The call invites teams of up to 4 students to work together to address the specific Communities of Practice Challenges. All of the submitting communities and fellows will be mentored in terms of support in methodology.

Each challenge is funded by a fellowship for 1 to 4 Fellows over a two-month period. Funding is provided in the form of employment at LIFT_C (20 hrs/week, a salary of EUR 1,299.60 per month), thereby allowing the fellows to focus on the respective challenges in-depth.

The fellowship includes a course (3 ECTS credits) and keeping a reflective diary. During the course, experts provide students with hands-on support, focusing on teaching future-oriented skills in the field of open, social innovation.

To top it off, all of the participating communities and fellows will be invited to attend a final event on June 5, 2024, to present findings from the challenges as well as reflect on these findings together. The concluding session serves as a space to informally share the acquired "future skills", honor the fellows' individual contributions, and strengthen dialogue between all of the participants and across the board.