UK Launches National Chapter of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) 

The United Kingdom has taken a significant step forward in advancing responsible research assessment with the establishment of a National Chapter of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).  

Complementary to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), the CoARA initiative aims to foster collaboration and drive substantive change in research assessment practices nationwide.  

Following the establishment of the UK National Chapter on 20 February 2024, the Steering Group met on 20 March to agree priorities, exchange practice and determine next steps.  

Hosted by the University of Strathclyde as part of its annual Research Integrity and Culture Week, the meeting followed a thought-provoking panel discussion on ‘Where next for responsible research assessment?’ involving RoRI’s Director of Strategy Stephen Curry and former Chair of DORA, Neil Jacobs, UK Reproducibility Network, and Emma Day, Vitae.

Co-led by the Universities of Strathclyde, Swansea and Loughborough, the UK National Chapter of CoARA comprises a diverse range of organisations committed to promoting systemic reform and reflecting on ambitions for reforming research assessment.  

RoRI has joined the new UK National Chapter of CoARA, alongside CRAC-Vitae, Goldsmiths College, University of London, Health Data Research UK, Jisc, Loughborough University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Nottingham Trent University, Software Sustainability Institute, Swansea University, Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) UK, UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), University of Central Lancashire, University of Derby, University of Edinburgh, University of Reading, University of Strathclyde, and University of Warwick. 

Grace Murkett, CoARA lead at the University of Strathclyde, said:

“The establishment of the UK National Chapter of CoARA marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to drive positive change in research assessment practices.

Bringing together expertise from across the UK research landscape, the mission of the UK National Chapter is twofold.

Firstly, it aims to facilitate meaningful change by supporting member and signatory organisations in developing and implementing actions to reform research assessment.

Secondly, the Chapter seeks to promote systemic reform by engaging with stakeholders outside the Coalition and advocating for the adoption of CoARA principles.” 

Helen Griffiths, CoARA lead at Swansea University, said:

The UK National Chapter will serve as a forum for collaboration, sharing best practices, and addressing challenges specific to research assessment in the UK. Through coordinated efforts and engagement with stakeholders, we aim to drive positive change in the research landscape.

Moving forward, the UK National Chapter plans to deliver information sessions for potential CoARA members, organise quarterly members’ meetings, coordinate input to CoARA working groups, and engage with other organisations involved in research assessment reform activities. 

For more information about the UK National Chapter of CoARA, please contact Grace Murkett at grace.murkett@strath.ac.uk.