The University of Silesia in Katowice is one of the universities joining the European Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), established at the end of September to change the system of research evaluation.
The coalition was formed as a result of an agreement concluded in July, which was a response to an earlier report by the European Commission on changes in the evaluation system (Towards reform of the assessment system). The proposals were supported by over 350 scientific and science-supporting organisations from over 40 countries, and the team coordinating the work on the document included representatives of Science Europe and the European University Association as well as independent researchers.
The coalition has made commitments that take into account open science and its impact on research quality. In particular, the document emphasises the need to ensure universal access to methods and results, which facilitates the verification and replication of research, as well as the reuse of research results. Openness is to foster cooperation both within and outside the scientific community, which in turn translates into innovation in technology and greater impact of science on economic, cultural and social issues.
CoARA initiates an international platform for dialogue, the main goal of which is to search for rational ways to assess scientific excellence and scientific achievements. For the University of Silesia, joining this platform is another step towards determining the contribution of scientists, taking into account open science, the diverse contribution of disciplines, assessing the impact of research on society and recognising all roles performed – that of a researcher, academic teacher, mentor and others. Since 2017, the University of Silesia, through the prestigious HR Excellence in Research award granted by the European Commission, has been among the research institutions that provide scientists with a transparent recruitment process, stability of employment and opportunities for professional development at all stages of their careers. This award is related to the European HR Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) promoting the Charter and the Code of Ethics for the employment of researchers. The most important goals of introducing the provisions of the Charter and the Code are to strengthen the innovativeness and competitiveness of science by creating an atmosphere conducive to research work and ensuring stable working conditions for scientists at every stage of their professional career.
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