OPUS Deliverable 2.5 Interventions to Implement the OPUS Researcher Assessment Framework (RAF)

The four categories – policy, resource, awareness and training have been robustly tested and we believe cover the main actions and activities required for institutions to implement either framework. Policy and Senior Management and committee buy in is of course imperative. Alongside this there is a need to realistically consider resource and ensure that researchers are not overburdened and have the right levels of support, knowledge, time and systems to ensure success. Awareness raising remains key in ensuring that all across the institution understand the reasons for change and see the benefits to them as individuals. Finally for researchers to be successful training to empower them must be offered in order to achieve long term change in behaviour. This is always to be understood as an iterative process which should also allow for continuous improvement.

Recommendations for Institutions

• Collect existing best practices on the reform of researcher assessment and consider linking with other similar initiatives on this topic for example developing a COARA action plan
• Ensure researchers are involved in all aspects of institution change in this area and fully aware of the benefits of researcher assessment reform with opportunities to influence, contribute and collaborate
• Ensure there is have commitment to researcher assessment reform at the highest level and as part of long-term institutional strategy
• Commit adequate resources to researcher assessment reform to ensure implementation and not overburden researchers
• Engage with policy makers and funders to continue to influence systemic change, highlighting good practice and successful initiatives

Recommendations for Funders

• Consider how researcher assessment can be improved and rewarded through impact measures and funding calls
• Ensure that you are not reinforcing the use of traditional metrics through funding calls
• Consider alternative methods of assessment within funding calls
• Demonstrate commitment to changing researcher assessment by engaging with sector wide initiatives eg. COARA and other Horizon Europe projects
• Engage with policy makers and funders to continue to influence systemic change, highlighting good practice and successful initiatives

Recommendations for Researchers

• Engage with researcher assessment reform initiatives and seek opportunities to influence the conversation
• Look for opportunities to evidence your impact as a researcher beyond traditional metrics and engage with your institution and supervisor in this process
• Find out your organisation’s policy on reforming researcher assessment (eg. are they a signatory of COARA) and understand how this is being applied
• Act as a champion for reforming researcher assessment with peers and seek ways of evidencing researcher impact