NRFU-SE Webinar Series: Transforming Research Assessment Systems: Criteria, Quality, and Societal Impact

The fourth webinar in the Science Europe-NRFU series Building Capacity in the Ukrainian Research and Innovation Ecosystem, entitled 'Transforming Research Assessment Systems: Criteria, Quality, and Societal Impact,' took place on 26 June 2026.

The session explored ongoing developments in responsible research assessment and examined how evolving approaches to assessment can contribute to improving research quality, fostering positive research cultures, and recognising a broader range of research contributions and impacts.

Key points from the discussion included the need to move beyond narrow publication-based metrics towards holistic, qualitative, and context-sensitive assessment that recognises diverse outputs, career paths, collaboration, Open Science practices, and societal engagement. Speakers stressed that this does not mean lowering standards, but improving the ability of assessment systems to identify and reward high-quality research in its diverse forms.

The webinar also highlighted that research assessment reform is a long-term process of cultural change, requiring transparent criteria, high-quality peer review, reviewer training, sustained dialogue, and engagement with research communities. Stronger alignment between research assessment and Open Science was identified as an important way to encourage openness, transparency, collaboration, and responsible research practices.

Participants underlined the value of international cooperation and shared frameworks such as CoARA and DORA in supporting mutual learning and implementation. While there is no single model for reform across all disciplines and research systems, common principles of fairness, transparency, inclusiveness, and responsibility can provide a strong foundation for progress.