Open Universiteit signs 'Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment'
The agreement is in line with the national programme Recognition & Rewards, which the Open Universiteit is working on together with Dutch universities and knowledge organizations. For instance, the agreement calls for a broader form of recognizing and valuing the variety of tasks academics perform. It also wants science assessment to be primarily based on qualitative evaluations, if necessary supported by quantitative indicators.
Core agreements of the agreement
The agreement includes four 'core commitments':
- Recognition of the diversity of contributions to research and of research careers, appropriate to the nature of research;
- Base research assessment primarily on qualitative evaluation for which peer-review is central, supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators
- Abandon the inappropriate uses in research assessment of journal- and publication-based metrics, in particular the inappropriate uses of journal impact factor (JIF) and h-index
- Avoid the use of international rankings of research organizations in research assessment
International focus on Recognition & Rewards
The Open Universiteit is pleased that the changes in research assessment initiated some time ago from the programme Recognition & Rewards are now being picked up and implemented outside the Netherlands. Even though the agreement was set up by European organizations, it is expected that organizations from all over the world will join. Already, over 350 organizations from 40 countries have indicated their intention to join a coalition.
Room for everyone's talent
The Open Universiteit has been a member of the national Recognition & Rewards programme since the beginning. The programme aims to provide space for different career paths academics can pursue, not just research. Academics should also be able to grow further based on teaching performance, leadership or impact and outreach. Since no one can be good at everything, it should be possible to pursue an academic career based on different qualities. This will do justice to what is expected of the contemporary scientist in today's society.
Relevant links
Go to the Recognition & Rewards page at the Open Universiteit.
The 'Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment' is available online.
More information on the agreement can be found on the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (COARA) site.
