Publication

Action plan published: working with research assessment in the future

Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) has now published its action plan for the implementation of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA). In the coming years, the fund will work extensively on its procedures and tools for research evaluation."

See the action plan for the foundation's implementation of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (pdf)

»We will be working extensively with the elements of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment over the next many years, and it is this work that we are now presenting in the action plan,« says Chair of the Board Søren Serritzlew, and continues: »The way we assess research and the tools we use directly affect the researchers. As a public research fund, we have a responsibility to ensure that our research assessment is conducted in the most appropriate way and that it is the best and most groundbreaking research projects, which  receive funding.«

DFF signed ARRA in 2022, thereby joining Coalition on Reforming Research Assessment (CoARA). As a signatory of the agreement, DFF wants the assessment of research, researchers, and research organizations to recognize all the diverse results, practices, and activities that maximize the quality and impact of research.

By signing the agreement, one commits to implementing its 10 commitments and principles (see the fact box below) in their research assessment work. DFF’s action plan forms the basis for this. The individual initiatives are not yet planned in detail, and the timeline for the implementation is long. The action plan will therefore be updated continuously with further details as the specific initiatives are developed and implemented.

The fund will involve the applicants' perspective, collaborate with stakeholders, and exchange ideas to ensure that the fund's research assessment is as good as possible. This collaboration is essential to create lasting change in the research landscape both nationally and internationally.

Chair of the Board Søren Serritzlew elaborates: »A lasting change that can really make a difference requires that all actors work together. Therefore, DFF has already been a co-initiator of network meetings for Danish research funding funds and universities. The fund looks forward to further collaboration with Danish and international research institutions to ensure broader and better research assessment.«

ARRA Commitments

Core Commitment 1: Recognise the diversity of contributions to, and careers in, research in accordance with the needs and nature of the research

Core Commitment 2: Base research assessment primarily on qualitative evaluation for which peer review is central, supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators

Core Commitment 3: Abandon inappropriate uses in research assessment of journal- and publication based metrics, in particular inappropriate uses of Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and h-index

Core Commitment 4: Avoid the use of rankings of research organisations in research assessment

Supporting Commitment 5: Commit resources to reforming research assessment as is needed to achieve the organisational changes committed to

Supporting Commitment 6: Review and develop research assessment criteria, tools and processes

Supporting Commitment 7: Raise awareness of research assessment reform and provide transparent communication, guidance, and training on assessment criteria and processes as well as their use

Supporting Commitment 8: Exchange practices and experiences to enable mutual learning within and beyond the Coalition

Supporting Commitment 9: Communicate progress made on adherence to the Principles and implementation of the Commitments.

Supporting commitment 10: Evaluate practices, criteria and tools based on solid evidence and the state-of-the-art in research on research, and make data openly available for evidence gathering and research