| dc.description.abstract | Reforming research assessment is increasingly seen as a priority to ensure the quality,
performance and impact of research. Reform, however, requires cultural and systemic
changes that are complex and slow to implement. This report presents the findings of a
series of in-depth consultation with many stakeholders (see Annex 1) over the last 9
months, as well as from extensive analysis of the literature (see Annex 2), on what goals
should be pursued through reform, and on how changes could be facilitated and
accelerated through a European initiative.
The starting point was the 2018 Commission Recommendation to Member States for
setting and implementing clear policies to reward a culture of collaboration and of sharing
of knowledge and data (Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/790 of 25 April 2018).
In the context of this report, we understand “research assessment” as encompassing the
assessment of researchers (for their recruitment and for their career progression), of
research proposals submitted to research funding organisations, and of research teams,
institutes and institutions (see Annex 3). It appears from consultation that any reform of
research assessment should ensure coherence or at least prevent contradictory
injunctions between these different types of assessment. In addition, assessment of the
research activities of academics is considered one component of broader academic
assessment, together with the assessment of other activities, like teaching,
entrepreneurship, management or leadership. A European initiative dedicated to
improving research assessment may be seen as an opportunity for universities to also
consider how to best balance the various activities of academics in their evaluation. |
