Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)

Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment

The European Union initiated the process of reforming research assessment in 2021. The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) - a global network of universities, research institutions and research funding organisations - has emerged from this process. Its aim is to initiate a cultural change along with development and establishment of new principles in research assessment.

TU Braunschweig is a member of CoARA and has signed the "Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA)" together with more than 700 organisations. In addition to TU Braunschweig, signatories include the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Research Council (ERC), as well as TU's strategic partner universities, the University of Tampere (FI) and the University of Strathclyde (UK).

The agreement contains both principles and recommendations for reforming the current research assessment landscape. At its core, the reform initiative aims to strengthen qualitative approaches in research assessment when evaluating research, researchers and research institutions with a focus on peer review procedures, supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators. Additionally it highlights the need to recognise the diversity of contributions to, and careers in, research in accordance with the needs and nature of the research. Furthermore, all signatory institutions support a differentiated approach to university rankings.

Participation in CoARA and signing the agreement are voluntary and not legally binding. TU Braunschweig can choose which commitments of the agreement to prioritize and how to structure the reform process based on its individual framework conditions and goals. It can also decide on the steps for implementation and the pace of each step, ensuring that its needs are met. Continuous consultation with researchers is crucial throughout the entire process.

To facilitate exchange between CoARA member organisations, Working Groups and National Chapters (NC) have been established. In the Working Groups, the member organisations collaborate on strategies how to realise the commitments of the agreement in specific areas. The National Chapters help to facilitate the implementation of the agreement at a national level. TU Braunschweig is part of the CoARA Working Group „Academic Career Assessment (ACA)“, led by the European University Alliance (EUA), and a member of the National Chapter Germany, led by the DFG.

As a member of CoARA, TU Braunschweig is highlighting its dedication to evaluating its research assessment practices and implementing agreed-upon recommendations independently within an internationally recognized framework and specified timeframe. The university can integrate the reform process into existing procedures, such as the university development initiative, to foster a more comprehensive understanding of research assessment at TU Braunschweig.

Moreover, the following factors support the decision for TU Braunschweig to sign the agreement and become a member of CoARA:

The review and evaluation of current research assessment practices raises awareness of ambivalence in different areas of the university. CoARA provides a credible, reliable and comprehensive framework for addressing this sensitive topic for researchers and university leadership alike.
It creates a space for reflection that contributes to the further professionalisation of research assessment practices at TU Braunschweig.
Participation in the CoARA Working Group „Academic Career Assessment (ACA)“,and the National Chapter Germany, allows TU Braunschweig to benefit quickly from best practices and advance its own development through international exchange, benchmarking and the joint development of new approaches and tools.

By signing the agreement, TU Braunschweig, along with over 600 organisations worldwide, has signalled its willingness to review its research assessment practices. Part of the agreement is the creation of an action plan to implement the recommendations for reforming research assessment at our university.

TU Braunschweig’s action plan has been developed in 2023 and has been published in English on Zenodo together with the action plans of other CoARA member organisations.

The overall reform initiative is designed to be implemented in stages over a period of 5 years and is conceived as a continuous process of development within our University.

Download CoARA Action Plan

CoARA is aimed at different target and dialogue groups. These include:

all those involved in research
ancillary staff in the institutes and faculties
university management and committees
university administration and designated offices
anyone interested in TU Braunschweig research (e.g. future employees, cooperation partners)
funding agencies and ministries

At TU Braunschweig, several departments are currently engaged in preparing, organizing, and providing ongoing support for the university's reform process. These include:

However, the reform of such a large system as research assessment requires cooperation in many areas. The implementation of CoARA at TU Braunschweig is intended to be a participatory and iterative process. In particular,

decentralised units (faculties, institutes, FSPs, research centres),
bodies (Senate, Faculty Council, ...)
and individuals (scientists, professors, ...)

are cordially invited to actively participate and shape the process, as they are major stakeholders, e.g. as CoARA ambassadors for their institution.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Contact

Andreas Hebbelmann
Head of Research Services

☎ +49 531 391 4276
a.hebbelmann(at)tu-braunschweig.de

Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)

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