This EUA report provides an up-to-date overview of the current state of research assessment at European universities, and shows why and how institutions are reviewing their evaluation practices. Based on the results of the 2019 EUA Open Science and Open Access Survey on Research Assessment, the report aims to inform and strengthen the discussion by gathering and sharing information about current and future university approaches to research assessment.

The findings made clear that institutions focus on publishing research outcomes and attracting external funding in their incentive and reward structures. A second finding is that universities rely on a limited set of evaluation practices, which are mostly geared towards assessing research publications. This is not the case for Open Science and Access, which are important or very important only for 28% of respondents in their approach to research assessment for the purpose of research careers. Another finding is that universities consider themselves largely autonomous when it comes to developing and implementing research assessment approaches. Finally, universities are also keenly aware of external influences shaping their approaches to research assessment.

EUA