Contents
Open Research Programme
A five-year programme supported by Research England, UKRN institutional members and project partnersOpen and Responsible Researcher Reward and Recognition (OR4) Project
Lead
The chair of the group is Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, Cardiff University.
Overview
The Open and Responsible Researcher Reward and Recognition Project (OR4) will support the institutional implementation of responsible researcher assessment policies and procedures that include recognition of Open Research practices.
Objectives
The objectives of OR4 are:
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- To provide institutional leaders and managers with a set of freely available practical tools they can use to implement responsible research assessment that includes incentivising Open Research practices in policies and procedures for the recruitment, promotion and appraisal of researchers;
- To track the implementation and evaluation of such procedures over the course of the project in selected institutions, test and refine the resources and tools produced by the project, and provide practical case studies for the benefit of other institutions;
- To foster a community of staff in institutions with an interest in (and responsibility for) all relevant aspects of institutional practice, to support them in the process of improvement, and to facilitate the sharing of best practice;
- To engage with an international network of relevant initiatives and expert stakeholders (including a project Advisory Group) to ensure the project adds value and is complementary to existing activities and resources, and to promote and disseminate project outputs.
The main focus of the project is on procedures for the recruitment and promotion of researchers, but procedures related to the following are also within scope: probation, annual performance assessment, the award of institutional funding to support research, and other forms of reward such as prizes. The primary intended beneficiaries are members of UK research-performing institutions who are involved in the implementation of research assessment reforms. But the project engages with an international context, and it is anticipated that project activities and outputs will be of relevance and use to members of research-performing institutions outside the UK as well as to stakeholders supporting development of policy and practice in this area.
Plan
A summary Project Plan is attached below.
The project is divided into three work packages (WP), consisting of activities as follows:
Work Package 1 (WP1) largely serves the goal of organising the work of the group, and as such will not be discussed here in detail.
Work Packages 2 and 3 contain the following deliverables:
WP2: Communication and engagement
2.1. Project website
The project website will include information about the project aims and its outputs and will be updated throughout the project.
2.2. Institutional activity and requirements-gathering survey
A survey will be disseminated to UK institutions to seek information about the current state of institutional responsible researcher assessment policies and procedures including reward and recognition for Open Research practices. To be disseminated 2023 Q1.
2.3. Case studies
A minimum of five representative case study institutions, who will be undertaking reform of their researcher assessment procedures, will be recruited and tracked throughout the project. Case studies will be published on the project website and updated periodically. Recruitment will take place 2023 Q1/Q2.
2.4. Online event to promote project resources
An online event will be held to promote the project outputs. Planned for 2023 Q4/2024 Q1.
2.5. Workshops on implementing responsible research assessment including reward and recognition for Open Research
A target of five workshops will be delivered to UK institutions who seek assistance in the implementation of responsible research assessment including reward and recognition for Open Research practices. To be scheduled 2024 onwards.
WP3: Resources and tools
3.1. Landscape review of initiatives, resources and tools
A landscape review report providing an overview of initiatives, resources and tools will be produced. The report will be used to develop the online curated list of initiatives, resources and tools, which will be maintained throughout the project. Initial release 2023 Q2.
3.2. Maturity framework and self-assessment tool
A maturity framework and an institutional self-assessment tool based on the framework will be developed to enable institutions to produce a current status maturity assessment and help them plan institutional development and progress up the maturity scale. To be released 2023 Q4.
3.3. Guide to implementing responsible researcher assessment including reward and recognition for Open Research
This guide for institutional leaders and managers will be illustrated with examples from case study institutions. It will discuss the rationale for reforming institutional researcher assessment, and provide guidance on implementing responsible assessment policies in recruitment and promotion procedures. Initial release 2023 Q3/4.
3.4. Training modules for candidates and assessment staff
Two self-directed e-learning modules will be developed, one for candidates for assessment, and one for staff involved in assessment, to help explain the principles and practice of responsible research assessment including reward and recognition for Open Research practices. To be released 2023 Q4/2024 Q1.
Current position
Work package 1: As of February 2023, the group is nearing completion on tasks listed in this work package. The group has established a regular monthly meeting, chaired by Prof. Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, and has a document repository for storing and sharing all the project related documentation. The group has created a short and long version of the project plan and is implementing last changes to the plan following feedback from the Advisory Group. The group has also created and approved a communication and engagement plan which will be used throughout the duration of the project.
Work package 2: The group has established the project website which will be used to share progress and promote the project outputs. An institutional survey on current researcher reward and recognition practices has been developed and will be released in March to all UK research-performing institutions. The group is also aiming to recruit a cohort of at least five case study institutions by the end of March.
Work package 3: Preliminary work has commenced on all of the WP3 deliverables.
Outputs:
Contact:
Anna Korzeniowska (Project Manager) ak0075@surrey.ac.uk
Robert Darby r.m.darby@reading.ac.uk
Training
Enabling UK institutions to improve the skills in open research practices
Evaluation
Developing effective ways to assess changes among researchers and institutions
Sharing
Enabling and encouraging institutions to share good practice