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[ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects/laboratory-of-engagement-with-research-assessment-reform-lerar) 1. [Discover CIVIS Alliance ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance) 2. [Our work ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) 3. [CIVIS Alliance projects ](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects) 4. Laboratory of Engagement with Research Assessment Reform (LERAR) Laboratory of Engagement with Research Assessment Reform (LERAR) ================================================================== The project builds on the prior work of [Module 5 in RIS4CIVIS](https://civis.eu/en/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects/recent-projects/ris4civis/ris4civis-module-5-mainstreaming-of-open-science), promoting the engagement of the CIVIS universities in CoARA. It is aimed at researchers, research support staff, and university governance. Inside the project ------------------- ### Exchanging good practices between three members of one European university alliance Research assessment is currently debated at international level, with the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) taking the lead to promote a culture of change. Encouraging researchers to stay committed to the CoARA principles is a long-time challenge for universities. Local norms and national regulations do not always match with ongoing European and international initiatives, creating a gap that affects especially researchers who are changing institutions as part of different transnational mobility programmes. Typically, researchers based at one institution must comply with the national criteria in the evaluation of their research outputs, which is not necessarily the case with researchers moving from one institution to another, especially early stage career researchers who are more prone to change their hosting institution. The increased mobility can also lead to the diversification of research outputs. This double aspect should be recognised in research assessment, and it is our strong conviction that European university alliances are in the best position to address the challenges by: - providing training and examples of good practices to all-stage career researchers doing mobilities in other universities of the alliance; - identifying new research outputs produced outside of the typical national criteria. The project aims to create a network within CIVIS to exchange good practices and to accelerate the adoption of CoARA principles within the alliance including worldwide partners. Objectives ---------- The main goal of the project is to promote CoARA in CIVIS, and to explore good practices in research assessment, starting from the three partner universities and creating a larger network within the alliance. In order to achieve this goal, the project will include a detailed comparison through a thorough mapping of the current situation in the partner universities, inviting other members of the CIVIS alliance to share their experiences, and encouraging more CIVIS universities to adhere to CoARA. LERAR will create a toolkit for other members of the alliance, which will include examples of good practices in light of the CoARA principles, showcasing the different layers of engagement (local, national, and international) with research assessment reform in the case of European universities. The project outlines five main objectives: - Increase the number of signatories inside CIVIS; - Promote CoARA commitments internationally towards partners; - Share the good practices at the level of CIVIS and build the sustainability of the transition process to the adoption of the CoARA principles within a university alliance; - Creation of a common guide and recommendations for promoting CoARA’s principles through dedicated actions at the CIVIS level; - Elaborate methodological recommendations for other Universities alliances. The team --------- Coordinated by the University of Bucharest, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Aix-Marseille Université, the project is grounded on the efforts of Open Science task force and expert group in CIVIS, in close collaboration with the research component of the alliance (Reseach Council and Research Unit). ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/university-of-bucharest.png)- Mihnea Dobre - [Email](mailto:mihnea.dobre@unibuc.ro) ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/universidad-autonoma-de-madrid.png)- Rafaella Lenoir - [Email](mailto:rafaella.lenoir@uam.es) ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/aix-marseille-universite.png)- Fabien Borget - [Email](mailto:fabien.borget@univ-amu.fr) ![](/storage/files/en-fundedbytheeu-rgb-pos.png)*LERAR is a 1-year programme started in September 2025 and funded under the* [*CoARA Boost Cascade Funding Programme*](https://www.coara.org/coara-boost-cascade-funding/second-call-for-cascade-funding/cascade-funding-selected-projects-2/) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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