Programme / Rethinking Research Assessment to Shape Innovative, Inclusive, and Impactful Science in Europe

Research assessment occurs in a wide array of contexts, each with its own unique objectives, resources, and challenges. Consequently, it must be supported by carefully tailored procedures, dimensions, and criteria. The research community in Europe is in the early stages of a significant transition, with initiatives like the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) leading the way in promoting alternative evaluation methods that move beyond the traditional over-reliance on journal-based metrics. Established in 2022, the Coalition on Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) has already brought together over 600 member organisations committed to reforming research assessment practices to recognise the diverse outputs, practices, and activities that enhance the quality and impact of research.  

In this session, leading experts from the European research community represented in CoARA discuss the impetus for changing the status quo in research assessment, the challenges in developing new approaches to assessing research in fast evolving digital ecosystems, and the initial steps being taken in Europe towards a more open, innovative, inclusive, and impactful research culture.