Responsible Research Assessment Working Group
“Responsible research assessment refers to approaches to assessment that incentivise, reflect, and reward the plural characteristics of high-quality research, in support of diverse and inclusive research cultures.”
Our mission
Facilitate and support the adoption of RRA globally by promoting a collective understanding of responsible approaches to research assessment, learning through collaboration, and openly sharing good practices to guide collective advancement.
Our vision
GRC participant organisations (and the organisations they fund) embed approaches to assessment that incentivise and reward the diverse attributes of research excellence in support of a better, healthier research culture that support rigorous research undertaken to the highest standards.
Our objective
Position the GRC as a leading voice on the promotion and implementation of RRA in the international research and innovation system to help build a diverse and inclusive research culture.
The working group's mission, vision and objectives are outlined in the Action Plan, which serves as the foundation for the group's activities.
Current Activities
1. Dimensions of Responsible Research Assessment
GRC-participating organisations requested a framework for responsible research assessment, leading to the development of 11 dimensions that articulate the funders’ vision of RRA. This framework helps funding agencies to identify where to embed principles of responsible research assessment and assessment reform, and informs the working groups' activities.
For more details, see Dimensions of Responsible Research Assessment.
2. Survey
Through its project ‘A Global Observatory on Responsible Research Assessment’, the Research on Research Institute (RoRI) partnered with the GRC RRA working group to survey GRC participants in 2024 on their RRA practices. Building on a first survey conducted by RoRI in 2020, this second survey provides fresh insights into RRA practices.
The headline finding is that research assessment among GRC-participating funders remains strongly focused on conventional and long-established modes of evaluating scholarly quality. However, principles of RRA are of considerable and increasing importance.
The results will be unveiled at the GRC Annual Meeting on 19 May 2025. The full report (DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.28856480) is already available.
In case of questions, please contact us at GRC-RRA@ukri.org or reach out to the RoRI team at hello@researchonresearch.org.
3. Enhancing RRA practices: Case studies
To help funders adopt more RRA practices, the working group is publishing case studies that showcase implementation in alignment with the 2024 Dimensions of RRA. These case studies are designed to complement existing RRA practice libraries (such as those offered by DORA or CoARA) and serve as a global reference for funders exploring ways to integrate the 11 dimensions of RRA into their processes.
See the Case Study Digital Library for the case studies.
GRC Participants are encouraged to continue submitting case studies to the working group to raise awareness of evolving practices. Please submit your case study/studies to GRC-RRA@ukri.org using the using the Case Study Submission Template.
4. Self-assessment tool and supporting roadmap
Coming soon…
The upcoming tool will draw on the diverse, international perspectives of our working group members and other experts to ensure it includes adaptable elements for various local contexts. This self-assessment tool will be accompanied by a comprehensive roadmap, offering guidance on how funders can drive systemic change, overcome challenges, and implement responsible research assessment (RRA) practices effectively.
Events
GRC Annual Meeting 2024
At the GRC Annual Meeting in May 2024 (Interlaken, Switzerland) we launched the 11 Dimensions of RRA and the GRC RRA survey. We also shared our case study framework, and took the opportunity to explore links between the conference topic of sustainability and RRA. A recording of the session is available.
We also presented a poster that outlines our work to date and details our plans.
About the Group
In May 2021, GRC participants agreed take concrete actions to incentivise and fulfil RRA ambitions. A new GRC RRA Working Group was established to support participant organisations in their progress towards these goals.
The RRA working group comprises 25 members from 23 organisations across the globe. The group’s membership includes representation from every region of the GRC, ensuring a worldwide perspective and outreach among global funders.
Members of the Group
The Working Group is co-chaired by:
- Dr. Mohammed A. Al-Shamsi, RDIA, Saudi Arabia
- Shawn McGuirk, NSERC, Canada
See also the full list of Working Group members and contributors.
Background
In November 2020, UKRI, UK in collaboration with the NRF, South Africa, and the UK Forum for Responsible Research Metrics delivered a GRC Virtual Conference on Responsible Research Assessment.
Prior to the conference, RoRI launched a working paper on ‘The changing role of funders in responsible research assessment: progress, obstacles and the way ahead’. The paper sets out the state of play regarding responsible research assessment, exploring what it means and outlining existing principles and frameworks in the space. It also presents the findings from a survey of GRC participant organisations on their own RRA policies and practices carried out in September 2020.
At the 9th GRC Annual Meeting in May 2021, a Conference Summary Report was published and the GRC endorsed a Call to Action that called on participant organisations to embed existing RRA principles and take concrete action to incentivise and fulfil RRA ambitions.
It is based on these activities, that the GRC RRA working group takes forward its action.
Contact
If you would like to know more about the activities of the GRC Responsible Research Assessment Working Group, please contact GRC-RRA@ukri.org.