Research assessment

The University of Vienna is fully committed to a fair, inclusive, and forward-looking research assessment system. Below, we outline how the University of Vienna aligns and actively contributes to the reform of research assessment.

1. Embracing a Broader Definition of Research Excellence

• We assess research based on its quality, relevance, and impact, rather than focusing solely on publication metrics.
• Our evaluation criteria are adapted to the characteristics and needs of different disciplines, and include contributions to teaching excellence, knowledge transfer, societal engagement, open science, and interdisciplinary research.

2. Prioritizing Recruitment, Promotion, and Funding Decisions

• Recruitment and promotion processes at the University of Vienna prioritize a holistic evaluation of candidates, considering their full range of contributions, including research performance, teaching, mentoring, leadership, and public engagement.
• Funding decisions are based on the merit of research proposals and their potential impact, rather than the prestige of the journals in which previous work was published.

3. Endorsing Informed Peer Review

• Research assessment processes prioritize qualitative evaluations through peer review, complemented by responsible use of quantitative and multidimensional bibliometric analyses.
• Refining bibliometric methodologies includes incorporating open bibliometric data sources, alternative metrics alongside traditional citation metrics, and innovative approaches such as narrative bibliometrics.

4. Supporting Open Science Practices

• The University actively promotes open access to research outputs and encourages the use of open data and open methodologies.
• We provide training and resources to help researchers adopt open science practices and comply with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

5. Encouraging Collaboration and Team Science

• We recognize and reward collaborative research efforts, including interdisciplinary and international collaborations.
• Contributions to team science, such as data sharing and co-authorship, are explicitly valued in our assessment processes.

6. Transparency and Accountability

• We are committed to transparency in our assessment processes, providing clear evaluation guidelines and criteria.
• Regular reviews and updates to our policies and practices ensure alignment with principles and evolving best practices of research assessment.

The University of Vienna is dedicated to continuously improving its research assessment practices. Open Science and the Reform on Research Assessment move hand in hand. We actively participate in working groups and collaborate with other institutions in Austria and Europe to share best practices and drive systemic change, e.g. GUILD Research Careers & Assessment Working Group, Community of Practice "Research Managers in Motion", UNIKO Working Group Research Assessment.

The University of Vienna fosters a Responsible Research Assessment Policy and offers additional briefings, workshops and training sessions for faculty and staff on responsible research assessment and open science practices.

The University of Vienna reaffirms its commitment to fostering a research environment that values quality, inclusivity, and societal impact. Together, we commit to shaping the future of research assessment for the benefit of science and society.

Share your feedback, ideas, and experiences to help us refine our policies and practices: researchassessment.qs(at)univie.ac.at.