How does the Recognition & Rewards programme relate to developments abroad?

Recognition & Rewards is an 'early mover' in the field of responsible research assessment and academic career reform. But it is not the first, or only, movement in this field.

Recognition & Rewards calls for qualitative assessment methodologies and a critical engagement with bibliometric data in the assessment of research. This ambition is in line with earlier initiatives such as the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) or the Leiden Manifesto on Research Metrics. The SCOPE-framework, developed by the INORMS Research Evaluation Group, meanwhile offers practical guidelines on how to better shape assessment procedures.

Another important element of Recognition & Rewards is the ambition to diversify academic careers; to recognise and reward academics for their varied contributions to research, teaching and society. The NOR-CAM assessment toolbox was partially inspired by Recognition & Rewards and aims to broaden the scope of academic assessment. In neighbouring Finland, the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies and the Committee for Public Information jointly published 'Good Practice in Research Evaluation', a set of policy recommendations that likewise focus on broadening the scope of academic assessment.

Such initiatives are not limited to the national level. The European University Association (EUA) has made reforming academic career assessment part of its vision for European universities in 2030. More recently, the EUA has also published a report on the key principles needed to create more attractive and sustainable careers that line up directly with many of the ambitions of Recognition & Rewards. Meanwhile, in Latin America the Latin American Forum on Research Assessment (FOLEC-CLACSO) has published its own declaration of principles for a research assessment reform, calling attention not only to qualitative assessment methodologies but also the importance of Open Science principles.

Perhaps the most noteworthy development in the European context is the launch of CoARA, an international network based on the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment. The ten commitments of the agreement call for the recognition of the diversity academic contributions and careers, a focus on qualitative assessment methodologies and a critical engagement with bibliometrics and rankings in assessment. Hundreds of universities, institutes and research funders - not limited to Europe! - actively participate in CoARA, divided in Working Groups and National Chapters. The network is furthermore named as one of the key elements in the ERA structural policies for 2025-2027.

The above is only a small sample of various initiatives across Europe and beyond. It does, however, clearly show that Recognition & Rewards is part of a wide (and growing) international movement towards reform.