{"id":307,"date":"2025-11-25T14:18:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T14:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/pvc-research\/?p=307"},"modified":"2025-12-01T12:20:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T12:20:35","slug":"responsible-research-assessment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/pvc-research\/2025\/11\/25\/responsible-research-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Responsible Research Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shaping culture through responsible research assessment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the University of Bath, we believe in the importance of fostering a culture that recognises research excellence in all its forms. How we assess research shapes the kind of academic environment we create and influences the innovation, collaboration, and impact that follow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Declaration on Research Assessment<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(DORA) offers\u00a0a timely\u00a0and transformative framework for achieving this \u2014moving beyond narrow metrics and toward a more inclusive, responsible, and forward-looking approach to research evaluation. Research metrics such as the h-index were proposed in 2005 to measure an author\u2019s influence through citations. Over time, these metrics have been extended to journals and used as proxies for quality.\u00a0Yet DORA recognises that these indices are flawed, they can be manipulated by journals, are highly field specific and are not\u00a0a good way\u00a0to assess research and researchers. This challenges us to move away from our reliance on journal-based metrics towards a more balanced and contextualised understanding of excellence.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Bath is a recent signatory to DORA and as such we recognise that this commitment requires us to rethink how we assess research and researchers. Senate\u2019s approval of Bath\u2019s refreshed\u00a0<\/span>Principles for Research Assessment\u00a0and Management<\/span><\/a>\u00a0marks an important milestone in this process. To support implementation, we are launching new\u00a0responsible research assessment (RRA)\u00a0guidance and training materials\u00a0in January 2026\u00a0to help our colleagues across the\u00a0institution\u00a0to understand how\u00a0we will be assessing research on its own merits\u2014its originality, rigour, and relevance\u2014rather than the prestige of the publication venue.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This shift is essential if we are to foster a culture that truly supports excellence, innovation, and societal impact. We are also very conscious that we want to implement this in a way that\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0adversely affect workloads for colleagues. The new materials have been designed to make adoption straightforward and supportive.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Bath, we want to drive an excellent\u00a0research environment\u00a0that delivers\u00a0high quality\u00a0outputs and publications\u00a0that\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0the best\u00a0originality,\u00a0significance\u00a0and rigour. We continue to encourage colleagues to publish their best work and signing DORA reinforces our focus on quality over quantity. This approach also aligns Bath\u2019s research practices with global trends in responsible research and innovation, that enhances our reputation with funders and partners\u00a0and supports our mission to deliver research with impact.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DORA encourages institutions to recognise a broader range of outputs, including datasets, software, policy engagement, and public scholarship. This is particularly important as we\u00a0seek\u00a0to\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0the real-world value of our research and its contribution to national and global priorities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It also supports our commitment to building a more\u00a0equitable\u00a0and inclusive research environment. Traditional metrics often disadvantage early-career researchers, interdisciplinary scholars, and those working in emerging fields. By adopting fairer and more transparent assessment practices, we create space for diverse talent to thrive\u2014strengthening Bath\u2019s intellectual vitality and long-term sustainability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Implementing DORA also gives Bath the opportunity to lead by example.\u00a0We are working on embedding its principles into promotion and selection criteria for posts, funding decisions, and strategic planning.\u00a0The new\u00a0RRA\u00a0guidance\u00a0and training materials\u00a0will\u00a0help colleagues across the institution understand how to best implement these principles effectively and consistently. Our\u00a0Departments,\u00a0Faculties\u00a0and School\u00a0of Management\u00a0are encouraged to reflect on their own assessment practices and consider how they can best support responsible research assessment locally.\u00a0Many leading universities and funders around the world have been signatories to DORA for some time. It is important that we now embrace this direction of travel and understand what it means for us. We should see signing DORA as a catalyst for positive change\u00a0and\u00a0an opportunity to enhance the integrity,\u00a0inclusivity, and impact of our research.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I would be grateful for your support \u2013 as senior leaders, as assessors, and\u00a0as\u00a0colleagues supporting assessment across the institution - in engaging with what the\u00a0guidance and\u00a0training means for\u00a0you and\u00a0helping us to position Bath for the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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