CoARA
CoARA - A strong coalition for advancing research assessment
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is a global network of universities, research institutions and research funding organisations established on the initiative of the European Union. Their common concern: a cultural change in research assessment. The vision: fair and comprehensive research assessment, rewarding and funding of research and researchers.
The h_da supports the reform movement and has been part of the coalition since 2022. By 2027, concrete measures are to be developed, elaborated and implemented in a participatory process.
CoARA - or: How do we want to evaluate research in the future?
Up to now, research has mainly been evaluated quantitatively, for example on the basis of publication figures, third-party funding or citation frequency. In practice, the competition for the highest figures leads to distortions in the research system at the expense of quality. Traditional indicators such as the impact factor are tailored to specific disciplines and often do not do justice to interdisciplinary research, for example. This imbalance has led to a desire for qualitative approaches that reflect the broad diversity of research practice in the various disciplines and thus create a fairer basis for evaluation.
Against this backdrop, the EU launched CoARA in 2022: the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment. Around 800 organisations worldwide have now joined the coalition and helped CoARA to achieve global significance. The member organisations can shape the implementation of the agreement themselves against the background of individual framework conditions and objectives and in consultation with their researchers. The spectrum of possible criteria for future research assessment is broad: qualitative and quantitative indicators, peer review procedures, interdisciplinarity and others are all conceivable. The discussion has only just begun.
What has already happened at h_da - and what is still to come?
In November 2022, h_da signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) and is a founding member of the German National Chapter of CoARA. Following the signing of the DFG Code of Conduct (Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice) and the EUT+ Statement on Open Research, this is a further building block in our research orientation.
Between 2023 and May 2024, an internal working group of administrative and academic staff drew up Action Plan 1.0 as a first step. This initially describes the organisational process that will provide a framework for the content. The measures and speed of implementation are determined by h_da itself. The Action Plan 1.0 was published in English on Zenodo together with plans from other CoARA member organisations.
Content-related measures for the action plan are to be developed with the university's stakeholders by 2027. Departments, research institutions and researchers at h_da are to jointly examine new possibilities for assessment practice. The key question: How and to what extent can the practice of research assessment be reformed in order to improve the quality, impact or sustainability of research?
CoARA-Prozess an der h-da
CoARA - a participatory process: Get involved!
You are cordially invited to actively participate in the design and implementation of the assessment reform at h_da!
CoARA does not specify a rigid process or timetable. However, further development of assessment practice will only take place if CoARA does not remain a declaration of intent, but is brought to life by the stakeholders. This should take place at h_da as a participatory process.
For the various aspects that can be discussed in the reform process, working groups are to be set up at h_da that are open to all members of the university. This is where those involved can exchange, coordinate and agree. A steering committee with representatives from all faculties is to bundle the activities and bring them together as a recommendation. The Service Centre for Research and Transfer (SFT) provides organisational support for the reform process.
The international CoARA working groups and the national chapters (state associations) serve as forums for exchange and networking for those involved in the coalition worldwide. The latter accompany the implementation of the agreement in the national context and offer practical support. In addition, regular reports are provided from the individual working groups.
The Working Groups work on specific areas of the reform. Would you like to get actively involved? Then why not join a Working Group! There are currently 13 international working groups.
If you would like to get involved at h_da or internationally, please get in touch.
Active participation - at h_da and internationally
Research assessment comes into play at various points. In working groups, we want to analyse assessment practice and propose changes. The CoARA working groups are open to all members of h_da.
Would you like to participate? Then please contact us.
The 13 working groups work at international level on ideas for reforming research assessment. Here, universities, research institutions and funding organisations discuss new evaluation approaches.
Are you interested? Then get in touch.
The CoARA steering group supports the reform process at h_da. The members from various disciplines act as multipliers in their departments and formulate recommendations for the procedure at h_da.
Would you like to get involved? Then please contact us.
Dr Frank Möller
Director of Service Centre Research and Transfer (SFT)
+49.6151.533-60593
coara@h-da.de
The CoARA network
Are you interested in the international CoARA network? This link will take you to the website of the „Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment“.
Action Plan 1.0 of the h_da
Would you like to know more about what h_da has already done in terms of CoARA? You can find our Action Plan 1.0 here .
Participation desired
As a member of h_da, you can play an active role in shaping the reform process at the university and internationally. Get in touch with us.