The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is organising the Online Workshop ‘CoARA Reforming Research Assessment’ on 17 October 2025.

The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) was launched in 2023. CoARA stemmed from a growing level of dissatisfaction with current quantitative methods of research assessment practice, where assessment and recognition are based on the attainment of publications, ranking and h-index. CoARA is a European initiative with an international span and aims to establish a common direction for research assessment reform. The coalition aligns with the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA, 2013) and other similar reports, with the primary aim of challenging the use of traditional metrics, promoting sustainable research quality, and strengthening research cultures.

There are some areas of research, particularly Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences [AHSS] that are underrepresented though use of traditional publication metrics, which raises the question of how fit for purpose is the current system for review of research performance, the equity and representation that traditional metrics and valuation systems apply to all sectors of research. When looking at the remit of a Technological University, we ask the question of how research serves diverse populations, engaging society, research outputs for the wider audiences and achieving research Impact. 

The vision for CoARA is to review the assessment of research, of researchers and research organisations to recognise the diversity of outputs, practice, while still achieving high-quality, impactful research.