As part of our 10th-anniversary celebrations, this month we highlight YERUN’s role in advancing Academic Assessment reform. Since its early days, YERUN has been committed to improving how academic careers are assessed, advocating for fair, transparent, and diverse evaluation systems.
In recent years, the European research community has increasingly recognised the necessity to move beyond traditional metrics, such as journal impact factors and citation counts, towards a more comprehensive approach that values research quality, integrity, open science, and broader societal impact. YERUN has been at the forefront of this shift, actively contributing to key policy developments and reforming initiatives.
A longstanding commitment to reform
Between March and November 2021, YERUN actively participated in the European Commission’s consultation on research assessment reform, aligning with its broader focus on ‘Talent Development’ within the YERUN Strategy 2021-2025. This process engaged European and international stakeholders in discussions on evaluating research based on intrinsic merits rather than publication metrics, advocating for qualitative peer review supported by responsible quantitative indicators. The conclusions of this process were outlined in the European Commission’s Scoping Report, published in November 2021, while YERUN’s recommendations aimed at making the initiative more inclusive, effective, and attractive for the university sector are outlined in the “Reforming research assessment in Europe – YERUN’s take on the issue” paper.
Building on this, in June 2022, YERUN submitted a position paper “Rethinking academic careers” in response to an European Commission consultation, reinforcing the need for reforms that assess researchers on more appropriate criteria. The paper showcases best practices from YERUN members and explores the cultural change required in academic career assessment.
Driving change through CoARA
Recognising the importance of a systemic approach to reform, YERUN became an official signatory of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment in November 2022 and formally joined the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). YERUN played a key role at CoARA’s inception, contributing as part of the core group writing the agreement.
Upon signing the Agreement, YERUN published a position paper outlining four key recommendations:
- Ensuring ownership of reform by those implementing change.
- Promoting an open and flexible governance model.
- Encouraging a new approach to change management.
- Achieving critical mass to establish CoARA as a global actor in academic assessment reform.
YERUN also actively contributes to the CoARA Boost project. A three-year Horizon Europe funded project designed to accelerate CoARA’s operational capacity and strengthen global collaboration on the reform of academic assessment. Through this project, YERUN supports the development of robust communities of practice that explore multiple pathways for reforming research assessment culture.
As part of CoARA Boost, YERUN leads the work (together with MCAA) on providing operational support to the CoARA Working Groups (WP4). Additionally, it is a member of the Working Group on Reforming Academic Career Assessment (ACA), which aims to define key principles for the reform and broaden the reflection on academic assessment, taking into account the full range of work conducted by academics in research, teaching and learning, innovation, management/leadership and service to society.
YERUN’s internal approach to Academic Assessment Reform
YERUN emphasises the importance of collective efforts in addressing shared challenges through its support to CoARA, but also through the creation of internal working groups on the topic. The YERUN ad hoc group on CoARA continues with the work carried out by the YERUN group on the research assessment, which dates way back to the creation of CoARA.
The YERUN ad hoc group on CoARA serves as a platform for members to discuss and align on policy and operational aspects of the academic assessment reform. It facilitates knowledge exchange, fostering a shared understanding of best practices and challenges in implementing CoARA-aligned policies. Additionally, the group identifies barriers to progress in academic assessment that are brought to the ERA Forum, under the dedicated structural policy on research assessment.
YERUN will continue acting as a bridge between CoARA and our members, contributing to policy debates and initiatives at European level around the reform, and encouraging and supporting our members to take part in discussions on the reform of academic assessment.
Guiding the Future of Academic Assessment and Careers
In 2022, at its November General Assembly in Maastricht, YERUN leaders reinforced their commitment to research assessment reform by setting key priorities:
- Broadening recognition: Expanding assessment criteria beyond research to include education, leadership, innovation, and societal impact while considering disciplinary and geographical diversity.
- Recognising leadership: Acknowledging the crucial role of academic leadership in driving change and fostering institutional dialogue.
- Focusing on career development: Supporting early and mid-career researchers through gradual, structured reforms.
- Aligning funding mechanisms: Advocating for funding models that reflect universities’ contributions beyond research and education, including regional and societal engagement.
Last year, in response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on promoting diverse, sustainable, and attractive academic careers, YERUN has published a paper outlining three key steps to enhance academic career sustainability:
- Step 1: Celebrating diversity of contributions and creating paths for talent to grow.
- Step 2: Creating adequate support systems for continuous skills development.
- Step 3: Empowering universities with adequate framework conditions to support diverse career developments.
This builds on YERUN’s extensive work in the field, as reflected in a previous policy paper “Towards a European Framework for Sustainable and Attractive Careers in Higher Education”.
YERUN remains a strong advocate for fair and transparent research assessment, ensuring that reforms foster inclusive, high-quality academic environments that support the next generation of researchers. Through continued collaboration and policy engagement, YERUN is committed to shaping a research assessment system that values excellence in all its forms.
Sparks under the Spotlight
As part of our “Sparks of YERUN” series, we turn the spotlight on Professor Eva Méndez, a leading voice in Open Science and research assessment reform. With her deep expertise, gained as Director of the Open Science Lab at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and as a former CoARA Steering Board member, Eva reflects on CoARA’s milestones, the challenges ahead, and the vital role young research universities play in shaping the future of assessment.
Joining the discussion, Professor Rianne Letschert, President of Maastricht University and CoARA’s former and first Chair, offers her perspective on the coalition’s impact and the road ahead. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of research assessment, the urgency of reform, and why young universities are uniquely positioned to lead the charge. Their insights shed light on the critical shifts needed to create a fairer, more inclusive system—one that values research beyond traditional metrics and empowers the next generation of scholars.
