Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment

The University has recently signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment to demonstrate its commitment to the use of fair and transparent methods for the selection, development and promotion of researchers.

About the Agreement

The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment is a European initiative and Coalition to change the ways research, researchers and research organisations are assessed, in order to maximise the quality and impact of research.

The Agreement recognises that current assessment practices need reform to improve fairness, robustness and transparency. Institutions that sign the Agreement agree to reform of their assessment criteria, tools and processes in line with its Principles and core Commitments. Signatories form a ‘coalition of the willing’ to engender real change through mutual learning.

Why we have signed the Agreement

Poor research assessment is one of the key drivers of poor research cultures. Research England already expects institutions in receipt of QR funding to adhere to principles of responsible assessment.

The University is signing the Agreement for the following reasons.

• As a firm commitment to reform our research assessment processes and make them fairer and more transparent.
• Committing to reform will help us embed responsible research assessment in our research culture, which we expect to be one of the requirements of the next REF.
• Being part of the Coalition will ensure the University has access to the latest resources and discussions.

What will happen now?

A Research Evaluation in Recruitment and Promotion Working Group led by Professor Adrian Bell (Research Dean for Prosperity & Resilience) is undertaking a number of activities to support the Agreement.

• We will develop a Research Assessment Policy to enact the principles of responsible research assessment, including recognition of Open Research practices.
• The group will work with a range of Schools and colleagues to pilot, evaluate and refine the Policy, guidance and resources being developed.
• We will make recommendations for changes to relevant HR policies and procedures, for example academic recruitment, probation, promotion and the professorial pay review process.
• We will engage with UCU and consult formally where appropriate.
• Once the new Policy and operational underpinnings are in place, we will sign the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which the University has not signed to date because we do not currently have the systems and procedures to implement its commitments.

Further information

Hear more from Adrian Bell about the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment in this video.

More details can be found in this Briefing Document. 

If you have any questions about the Agreement, please contact Professor Adrian Bell, Research Dean.