Abstract

This presentation will explore the role of responsible research assessment (RRA) in cultivating a positive research culture—one that values diversity, inclusivity, and the holistic contributions of all researchers. By moving away from narrow metrics that often promote competition and resource inefficiency, RRA encourages a more collaborative and supportive environment. This shift improves the well-being of researchers and enhances the overall quality and impact of research.

By adopting responsible evaluation methods that prioritize societal relevance, interdisciplinarity, and long-term sustainability, research management professionals can ensure that research outputs are not only academically rigorous but also socially and environmentally transformative. This approach aligns with the conference theme of "A Sustainable Profession in a Sustainable World", as it underscores the importance of evaluating research through a lens of responsibility and sustainability.

One of the big challenges in moving towards recognizing societal relevance, interdisciplinarity and long-term sustainability in research evaluation processes has to do with the research information the evaluations should be based on. It will require international cooperation, across all sectors of the research community, to determine how to collect and utilise a wider range of evidence in support of more responsible and sustainable research assessment.

The session will provide practical guidance on implementing RRA in alignment with recent global initiatives like the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment by utilizing the INORMS SCOPE Framework, with a special focus on responsible research information management which we consider a key element of ensuring the future sustainability of research assessment.

The INORMS SCOPE framework has been created by the INORMS Research Evaluation Group which includes members from all over the world, working in different sectors of the research enterprise. To underline the group’s diversity and the team effort needed to create a holistic framework, we bring in three presenters with different organizational backgrounds (representing universities and a service provider), as well as from different continents (Europe and North America).

This presentation is designed for research managers, administrators, and policymakers committed to enhancing research impact and nurturing a positive research culture through responsible assessment practices, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and ethical global research ecosystem.