Implementing Research Assessment Reform: Practical Lessons from the University of Rijeka

The reform of research assessment has become a central issue in European research policy, driven by the need to move beyond traditional, metric-based evaluation models towards qualitative, responsible, and Open Science-aligned approaches. The Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA), developed by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), outlines principles for transitioning towards fairer, more inclusive, and transparent assessment frameworks, incorporating interdisciplinary research, Open Science, knowledge transfer, and societal engagement (CoARA, 2022).

As an early signatory of CoARA, the University of Rijeka (UNIRI) has played a leading role in research assessment reform in Croatia. It is currently the only Croatian institution to endorse CoARA and has actively engaged with national stakeholders to initiate discussions on ARRA principles. UNIRI has implemented institutional policy changes, structural transformations, and pilot initiatives, drawing from its participation in European-funded projects, particularly OPUS, SECURE, and OSCAR. Additionally, it has contributed to the YUFE4Postdocs initiative, a joint effort of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) alliance partners, which has piloted narrative CVs as an alternative researcher evaluation model (YUFE, 2023).

Drawing on lessons learned from these initiatives, this paper presents a case study of research assessment reform at UNIRI, offering practical insights into challenges, solutions, and policy recommendations that can guide other institutions navigating
similar transitions.