ShareAdherence to DORA and CoARA
Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)
In view of the discussions held within the framework of the Research Assessment Commission and the Governing Board of AQU Catalunya, AQU Catalunya joined the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment in November 2022 in order to participate from the outset in the debates it promotes. This step followed the Agency’s adherence to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which also aims to move towards a new model of research assessment.
San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
AQU Catalunya signed up to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) in May 2020. Both the declaration and the Leiden Manifesto for Research Metrics warn of potential biases in the evaluation of scientific output. The teacher assessment processes used by AQU Catalunya are based on peer review of contributions, and are therefore fully aligned with the vision set out in these two documents.
AQU Catalunya’s approach to applying assessment criteria is notable, among other things, for its emphasis on quality over quantity. In other words, although the amount of research and bibliometric parameters serve as a guide, more weight is given to the proven quality of contributions. The fact that the evaluations are carried out collectively by experts is also noteworthy. The specific research assessment commissions comprise a sufficient number of members and advisers to ensure that all fields of knowledge for which accreditation is granted are represented by the relevant specialists. The final decision on the outcome of the assessment is taken collectively by the specific commission as a whole.
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve its commissions, AQU Catalunya is currently reflecting on how to better apply the DORA recommendations in its assessment processes.