A new direction for research assessment: Join the CoARA event
CoARA is changing how we assess research. Join the library’s event on 13 May to learn more about emerging perspectives on research evaluation, with a focus on career paths, practice and innovation.
Today, research is often assessed through bibliometric indicators such as publication counts and citations. In recent years, however, there has been growing international recognition that such metrics provide only a partial picture of research quality and impact.
“In the Rector’s column in the March newsletter, innovation and societal value are highlighted as key ambitions for SDU, with a clear goal that research-based knowledge should create value for society. CoARA is very much aligned with this ambition. It emphasises that research assessment should not focus solely on publications and citations, but also on societal impact, collaboration and innovation and on how such contributions can be more systematically recognised in research evaluation,” says Anne Thorst Melbye, Head of Research Documentation at the library.
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is an international initiative bringing together universities, research organisations and funders to develop more nuanced and responsible approaches to research evaluation. The initiative promotes greater use of qualitative assessment, broader recognition of diverse research contributions, and increased attention to the wider societal value of research.
SDU joined CoARA in 2022, and last year the university’s Executive Board approved an action plan outlining how the principles can be implemented in practice. The plan highlights the need to develop new forms of documentation and evaluation, enabling a wider range of research contributions to be recognised in assessments and career development.
As part of this work, the SDU Library invites you to an event on 13 May focusing on key themes in the future of research assessment. The programme is organised around three tracks:
- Early-career researchers and career paths
- Funders’ implementation of CoARA
- Innovation and how innovation contributions can be documented and included in research assessment
Target group
The event is aimed at researchers, research and department leaders, and staff working with research support and documentation. The purpose is to create a shared basis for dialogue on how CoARA principles can be implemented at SDU, and how the university can work towards more comprehensive and meaningful approaches to research assessment.
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is an international collaboration between universities, research organisations, funders and public authorities working to reform how research and researchers are evaluated.
It was launched in 2022 and stems from a joint European initiative involving, among others, the European Commission, Science Europe and the European University Association.
Join the event:
A new paradigm for research evaluation? CoARA at SDU, Wednesday 13 May
Registration & programme
Read more about CoARA
- See SDU’s CoARA action plan.
- Denmark has established a national CoARA chapter.
- CoARA website: www.coara.org.
Explore the library’s guide to research impact and documenting the societal value of research.