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The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment is now final
**Article updated on 03 October 2022**
Launched in January 2022 as a co-creation exercise, the process of drafting an agreement for reforming research assessment has reached an important milestone. On 8 July, the final version of the agreement was presented at a Stakeholder Assembly bringing together the 350+ organisations from 40+ countries having expressed interest in being involved in the process. Today, the final Agreement is made public with this news.
Organisations involved include public and private research funders, universities, research centres, institutes and infrastructures, associations (and alliances thereof), national and regional authorities, accreditation and evaluation agencies, learned societies and associations of researchers, and other relevant organisations. They represent a broad diversity of views and perspectives.
They have provided feedback to the evolving drafts of the agreement, as prepared by a team composed of representatives from the European University Association (EUA), Science Europe, and the European Commission, alongside Dr Karen Stroobants in her individual capacity as researcher with expertise in research on research.
A core group of 20 research organisations, representing the diversity of the research community across Europe, also contributed to the drafting process, while EU Member States and Associated Countries have been consulted on the agreement in the framework of the ERA Forum and the European Research Area Committee (ERAC).
The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment sets a shared direction for changes in assessment practices for research, researchers and research performing organisations, with the overarching goal to maximise the quality and impact of research. The Agreement includes the principles, commitments and timeframe for reforms and lays out the principles for a Coalition of organisations willing to work together in implementing the changes.
Signatories will commit to a common vision, which is that the assessment of research, researchers and research organisations recognises the diverse outputs, practices and activities that maximise the quality and impact of research. This requires basing assessment primarily on qualitative judgement, for which peer-review is central, supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators.
I believe in a research culture that recognises a diversity of contributions to science and society; that celebrates high quality and impactful research; and that values sharing, collaboration, integrity and engagement with society, transmitting knowledge from generation to generation.
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
The reform movement underpinned by the Agreement and the Coalition aims to be an inclusive and collaborative space to advance together towards a higher quality, more impactful and more efficient and inclusive research system. It offers a platform for piloting and experimentation, developing new assessment criteria, methods and tools, and for joint, critical reflection, exchange of good practices and mutual learning, while fully respecting the autonomy of organisations.
Supported by the work of the Coalition, organisations will decide on the steps to take to implement the commitments and the pace in their reform journey, which can vary depending on the context (for example, national, disciplinary or assessment of individual researchers, research units and research organisations or research projects) and the strategic goals and mission of each organisation.
Organisations involved in research assessment, based in Europe or further afield, are encouraged to sign the Agreement and to subsequently join the Coalition.
The collection of signatures to the Agreement was be launched on 28 September at the R&I Days, during a plenary session on reforming research assessment on 28 September. Signatures to the Agreement can now be made at: www.coara.eu/sign
It is now time to go beyond existing declarations and define clearly what we want for the future of research assessment. Universities, researchers and all stakeholders need to choose how they want to be assessed and need to choose now.
Michael Murphy, President of the European University Association (EUA)
The ‘Constitutive Assembly’, the first meeting of the General Assembly of the Coalition, is expected to take place before the end of 2022. A first discussion on the operation of the coalition and of its governance took place during the 8 July Stakeholder Assembly, where details of governing and supporting bodies and of participation and involvement were further specified, including membership of the Coalition being restricted to not-for-profit organisations involved with research assessment. Organisations without legal personality will also be able to sign the Agreement.
A closer to final version of the governance documents will be presented and discussed at the next Stakeholder Assembly, which will be held on 13 October 2022
‘Publish or perish’ and metrics have led us into a blind alley. Let us start recognising the full breadth of value created by researchers.
Marc Schiltz, President of Science Europe
All information regarding the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) can now be found at: www.coara.eu
Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment
The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment sets a commonly agreed direction for changes in assessment practices for research, researchers and research performing organisations, with the overarching goal to maximise the quality and impact of research. The Agreement includes the principles, commitments and timeframe for reforms and lays out the principles for a Coalition of organisations willing to work together in developing and implementing the changes.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Agreement and Coalition for Reforming Research Assessment
These Frequently Asked Questions accompany the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment and answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding both the Agreement and the Coalition.
