Reading Case Study Profile

Section 2: Open and Responsible Research Assessment – Current Strategic Activity

Please outline any current initiatives that address recognition and reward for open research within the context of research assessment practices, e.g., recruitment, promotion, probation and annual performance development review (max 250 words).

The University of Reading published the first Open Research statement by a UK university in 2019, and developed an Open Research Action Plan for the period 2021-23, in order to support the growth of Open Research culture and practice. One of the objectives of this plan was to integrate recognition and reward for Open Research in research assessment and management.

This objective is being addressed through the Research Evaluation in Recruitment and Promotion Working Group, established by the University’s Committee for Open Research and Research Integrity in 2022. The Working Group is chaired by Research Dean Professor Adrian Bell, and includes representation from the academic community and professional stakeholder groups. Its purpose is to implement responsible research assessment practices which include recognition for Open Research. It will address recruitment, promotion and other operations in which research assessment is used, such as internal peer review processes and preparation of the University’s REF 2029 submission. The group’s aims reflect an acknowledged need for the University to operationalise the principles of responsible research assessment. The University signed the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment in July 2023.

We identified Open Research as an emerging area of focus in research assessment reform, and became aware of the need for the sector to develop and share good practice in recognition and reward for Open Research. This led to the University’s involvement in establishing and delivering the OR4 project, and to our participation in the project as a case study institution.

Section 3: Open and Responsible Research Assessment – Planned Activity

Please outline any planned activity to address recognition and reward for open research within the context of research assessment reform (max 250 words).

The University’s Working Group has drafted a Research Assessment Policy, which will provide the overarching policy framework for institutional research assessment activities. The draft Policy includes the following expectation: ‘Assessment should recognise openness and reproducibility in research’. There is some detail in the policy as to how these attributes should be assessed, which is amplified in supporting guidance. This is likely to develop as the draft policy is consulted on and revised, with a view to its formal adoption by Spring 2025. The published Policy will be available online with additional guidance on:

• the assessment of outputs other than publications, such as datasets, software, digital resources and practice research outputs;
• the recognition of diverse roles, career paths and contributions to research, including those of data scientists, software engineers, technicians, and research communicators.

Training will also be developed to support policy compliance, and this will include guidance on recognition and assessment of Open Research contributions.

The Working Group has identified several possible measures that will be used to monitor and evaluate research assessment activities following policy implementation, including indicators of the use and assessment of Open Research evidence in procedures such as recruitment and promotion.

We are aware of the challenge of incorporating Open Research into research assessment in ways that are fair, transparent and effective. We hope our participation in the OR4 project and in CoARA will help us develop policy and practice aligned to best practice in the sector.

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