The "Fiasco Fest" creates space for researchers to talk openly about hurdles and failures. Developed by Sabine Bergner and Johanna Stadlbauer in Graz, it is now being rolled out across Europe!
Failure and rejection are part of life, but preferably not one's own!
This statement captures the essence of the current culture of failure in academia. Setbacks and defeats are common occurrences throughout one’s career, but they are often perceived as shameful and not openly discussed. At first glance, avoiding discussions about rejection and failure might seem like a minor issue. However, a closer look reveals several negative consequences such as unrealistic expectations, a fear of taking risks or mental health issues. All of these consequences are known to reduce creativity, motivation and commitment at work which can severely impact the performance of individual researchers, research groups and even universities. Excellent research requires adequate support to ensure as few things go wrong as possible, but if they do, there needs to be a culture that makes it possible to address that. That is a cornerstone of research integrity. The main goal of the “Fiasco Fest goes Arqus” initiative is to destigmatize rejection in academia, and promote learning from mistakes in a supportive environment. Read more in an article by Gudrun Pichler from the University of Graz communications team.
What is the Fiasco Fest?
The premise is that career setbacks are unavoidable and are an opportunity for personal development. In a festive environment, researchers 1) share with each other points of pride and "fiascos" in their career so far, 2) move on to analysing and exploring together what makes one's experiences into a "fiasco", 3) after which they are provided with psychological insights and tools that help with coping with setbacks, enabling them to "handle their next fiasco with care", and 4) finally there is an exercise in letting go.
Funded through the Arqus European University Alliance Innovation Fund, the “Fiasco Fest goes Arqus” initiative consists of three components:
- The workshop, known as "Fiasco Fest," serves as the core of the initiative. It is a three-hour experience lab designed to provide a safe and open space for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to share their stories of setbacks and failures.
- The collaborative session, referred to as "Train the Trainer," equips trainers from at least five Arqus universities with the essential tools and techniques to independently lead the "Fiasco Fest" themselves. Professionals will learn to establish the safe space required for the "Fiasco Fest" and adeptly guide its participants through the event.
- The manual, referred to as the Pedagogy Playbook, will support the trainers in effectively preparing for and conducting the Fiasco Fest. It will provide structured and organized information about the Fiasco Fest's content, objectives, activities and procedures.
Time frame and contact persons:
Starting/ending date of the initiative: 01.10.2024 to 15.09.2026. Five Arqus European University Alliance universities are taking part in the "Fiasco Fest goes Arqus" project: Maynooth University, Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD) / University of Padua, University of Graz, University of Wroclaw, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1.
Main contact persons for University of Graz:
- Johanna STADLBAUER & Sabine BERGNER
Main contact person for partner universities:
- Dominika BUCZKOWSKA, Uniwersytet Wrocławski
- Sara RAPONI & Matteo VOLPIN, Università di Padova
- Laura BOUSQUET & Romain THINON, University Lyon 1 Claude Bernard
- Marian CROWLEY HENRY, Katriona O’SULLIVAN, Aimee CRAWFORD, Ben FINNEGAN, Maynooth University
How to get involved:
- If you're a researcher: At the Arqus partner universities you can participate in the workshops! You can also join us in creating a repository of tools and activities which support the development of an error-friendly research culture!
- If you're working with researchers: With our toolbox (in development), you can create your own Fiasco Fest. Next opportunity to learn about it: “Fiasco Fest: What a Party-Workshop can do for a More Failure-Friendly Research Culture”: Online talk on Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 1-2pm CET, on Zoom (meeting of the CARE Careers Advisors Network), contact Sarah Blackford | LinkedIn if you want to participate!
Dates of Fiasco Fest workshops & registration links:
- Graz: Nov 4, 2024, Read the report and see pictures
- Maynooth: June 5, 2025, registration link tba
- Padua: tbc, 2025
- Lyon: tbc
- Wrozclaw: tbc
About the funding scheme:
The Arqus Innovation Fund incentivises innovative internal bottom-up initiatives from Arqus staff and students by providing seed funding to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as to increase the visibility of Arqus internally and encourage further staff engagement, Arqus Innovation Fund 2024: Selection results published! - Arqus (arqus-alliance.eu)
