WG Experiments in Assessment – Idea generation, co-creation, and piloting
WG Experiments in Assessment – Idea generation, co-creation, and piloting
WG Objectives
The mission of this group is to form an incubator for experimental ideas in research assessment. We aim to establish a process to enable change: collecting, refining, and piloting new initiatives. The group will be a ‘safe space’ for collaboration and brainstorming of unconventional ideas that will shift assessment in line with the goals of CoARA. We will consider a wide variety of approaches, including those that might consider the recognition and rewarding of under-represented and under-rewarded scholarly practices and alternative methodologies and values in the evaluation decision-making processes
This group involves funders, institutions, academies, and the Research on Research Institute, allowing us to approach this challenge in a holistic manner, engaging different stakeholders and perspectives to develop innovative ideas. Many of the institutions that are in the working group are committed to either pilot an initiative that comes out of our work, or to start the process to have pilots run in their institution.
Throughout the WG’s activities, we strive to ensure a diverse and inclusive scope of contribution, and we will make every effort to ensure that what comes out of this WG will reach the worldwide R&I community. In addition, we will constantly exchange with other ongoing initiatives and institutions active in this space through our networks, to align and make sure that learnings are
shared.
Latest News
Updated 29 April 2026:
The CoARA working group on Experiments in Assessment hosted a public webinar on 27 April 2026 at 15h-16h30 CEST for the official launch of its main output, the Ideas Catalogue.
The webinar presented:
- An overview of the Working Group’s goals, activities, and collaborative journey
- Insights into how the Idea Catalogue platform was conceptualised and developed
- A presentation of the Ideas Catalogue platform to discover experimental ideas
As the main output of the WG Experiments in Assessment, the Idea Catalogue consolidates experimental ideas that support the advancement of research assessment reform to shape a more holistic and inclusive definition of quality and excellence. By enabling experimentation and collective learning, the catalogue aims to help drive bold and ambitious change that ultimately improves the quality and integrity of research across institutions, disciplines, and countries.
Whether you are involved in hiring and promotion decisions, project or programme funding, institutional evaluation, or national research system assessment, the Idea Catalogue offers a collection of experimental ideas designed to support innovation in assessment. A collection of different experimental ideas are represented in the catalogue, which can be used as inspiration for designing experiments that innovate on current assessment practices.
The Idea Catalogue is intended to be an evolving output shaped by shared learning and collective experimentation. The WG Experiments in Assessment warmly invites researchers, evaluators, funders, institutional leaders, and policy stakeholders to join the webinar and learn more about the Idea Catalogue.
Affiliated Organisations
- ELKH (Eötvös Loránd Research Network)
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT Portugal)
- Ghent University
- Hasselt University
- HuMetricsHSS Initiative
- Luxembourg National Research Fund
- Politecnico di Torino
- Research on Research Institute
- Science Foundation Ireland
- St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
- Swedish Research Council
- UK Research and Innovation
- University of Humanistic Studies
- Young Academy of Sweden
Find out more!
Contact
Sean Sapcariu
FNR