Project Report: Responsible Academic Assessment at TU/e (v1.1)

This report was commissioned by Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and funded primarily through the Recognizing and Rewarding Open Science (grant ID: 500.070.2423) project, by Open Science NL (NWO), with the purpose of identifying procedural challenges and opportunities for improvement within academic assessment processes, and to support the development of evidence‑based, institution‑specific solutions. The observations and analyses presented reflect a systematic research effort carried out in collaboration with TU/e stakeholders and based on the university’s own policies, procedures, and strategic frameworks.

Although the findings draw on examples and data from TU/e, the issues described are not unique to this institution. International studies and sector‑wide evaluations indicate that similar challenges related to assessment quality, bias, procedural consistency, and workload occur across many universities. As such, the insights in this report should be interpreted as part of a broader academic discourse on responsible assessment rather than as criticisms directed at TU/e. Instead, they underscore TU/e’s proactive stance in commissioning a project that many institutions have not yet undertaken and in collecting data that are rarely available elsewhere.

Where relevant, this report explicitly references TU/e policy documents - including the Academic Career Paths framework, the Recognition & Rewards vision, integrity and social‑safety policies, and procedural guidelines for Selection and Assessment Committees (BACs) - to highlight the alignment between institutional ambitions and the recommendations proposed here. The overall aim is constructive: to contribute to TU/e’s commitment to responsible, transparent, and inclusive assessment practices, and to support continuous improvement grounded in empirical evidence and international best practices.