What does the research assessment reform in Europe mean for the University of Tartu?
On 20 October 2026, a seminar entitled "Research Assessment Reform in Europe: What Does It Mean for the University of Tartu?" was held at the University of Tartu Library. The aim of the seminar was to provide participants with an overview of the objectives of the international Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment and to discuss the changes needed to implement its principles in practice at the University of Tartu.
A total of 970 research organisations have signed the agreement supporting the principles of CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment). Of these, 840 have become full members of the coalition, and 307 have published their action plans for implementing the CoARA principles.
The CoARA principles aim to make research assessment more comprehensive and focused on the substance and quality of research and researchers' contributions. Greater emphasis is placed on qualitative assessment, taking into account the quality, content, and impact of research, as well as the diverse contributions researchers make to academic life. This means moving beyond reliance on quantitative indicators, such as publication counts and journal impact factors, to recognise other important aspects of academic work, including the quality of teaching, the supervision and mentoring of students and early-career researchers, and contributions to the research community and society. Quantitative indicators will continue to play a role, but they should support, rather than replace, qualitative expert assessment.
In Estonia, the Estonian Research Council and the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences have joined CoARA. No Estonian public university has joined the coalition so far.
The seminar was opened by Siret Rutiku, Head of the Grant Office at the University of Tartu, who welcomed the event as the beginning of implementing new research governance strategies at the university. She noted that further discussions would take place within the faculties and the University Senate.
The invited speaker was Professor Stanisław Kazimierz Kistryn from Jagiellonian University in Poland, a member of the CoARA Steering Board. Professor Kistryn previously served as Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds at Jagiellonian University. He is currently involved in coordinating the Polish National Chapter of CoARA, which brings together nearly 50 research and higher education institutions, and in addressing practical issues related to the implementation of research assessment reform. In his presentation, he shared Jagiellonian University's experience of joining the research assessment reform initiative. Professor Kistryn emphasised that joining CoARA is recommended rather than mandatory. Therefore, in the context of CoARA, the focus is not on requirements but on recommendations and the guidelines developed on their basis. The aim of the process is to create a fairer and more supportive working environment for researchers, which in turn enhances the institution's reputation.
Miina Norvik, Associate Professor of Finnic Languages and Language Typology at the University of Tartu and a member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences, presented the perspective of early and mid-career researchers on research assessment reform, drawing on a survey conducted among the target group in 2024. Issues at the heart of the reform, such as recognising different ways of conducting research and diverse career paths, are particularly relevant to early-career researchers, who will be especially affected by the reform. Norvik pointed out that early-career researchers in postdoctoral positions experience the greatest instability. Establishing an independent research topic after completing a doctoral degree, securing funding for it, and building a research group often coincide with one of the most vulnerable periods in a researcher's personal life. During this time, researchers may also be starting families and taking on teaching responsibilities, while lacking mentors and opportunities for dialogue with their employers.
The participants then discussed the university's regulations and practical aspects of their implementation in light of the CoARA principles. The discussion was moderated by Professor Mari Moora, Vice Rector for Research at the University of Tartu, and drew on a gap analysis conducted in 2026.
“The University of Tartu is already implementing several CoARA principles, for example in recruitment and promotion processes. However, further substantive measures are needed, supported by an appropriate framework.”
Mari Moora, Vice Rector for Research at the University of Tartu
Moora emphasised that the need for change must come from within the university. It is necessary to look beyond individual research groups and consider the university as a whole in order to bring about changes in its working culture and ecosystem.
The participants agreed that information about research assessment principles, together with clear explanations, must reach every researcher, target group, and level of assessment.
Research assessment reform is also an important priority for universities within the Alliance4Life network. Several member institutions have already implemented CoARA principles in their research assessment practices, while others are learning from their experiences. Toivo Maimets, Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Tartu and the President of the Alliance4Life, highlighted the importance of research assessment and university governance reforms for the Alliance4Life network. These efforts are also supported by the Alliance4Life_BRIDGE project, in which the University of Tartu participates, focusing on implementing new research governance strategies, including research assessment reform.
Author: Mailis Vahenurm
