Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)
CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) is an international coalition established to reform research assessment practices. The organization was founded in 2022, when more than 350 organizations from 40 countries united to create a common direction and methodology for evaluating research, researchers, and research institutions.
CoARA members collaborate to replace traditional assessment methods based on quantitative indicators with qualitative analysis, promote knowledge creation and policy evolution in research assessment, support institutional changes, and foster innovation in the field of evaluation.
Currently, the coalition includes 670 members from around the world, including universities, research centers, research funders, and various scientific associations.
The Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) has developed an action plan (2024–2028) for implementing CoARA principles within its activities, following the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment signed in December 2022. The Council has also designated responsible representatives:
- Dr. Vaiva Priudokienė, Deputy Chair, represents RCL at CoARA General Assemblies and coordinates the implementation of the CoARA Action Plan.
- Daiva Karužaitė, Head of the Science Evaluation and Data Analytics Division, is responsible for the part of the plan related to institutional evaluation.
- Dr. Julija Sabataitytė, Head of the Science Funding Division, oversees the part related to research evaluation.
- Dr. Eugenijus Stumbrys, Head of the Science Policy and Analysis Division, manages the part concerning researcher evaluation.
The list of Lithuanian organizations that have joined the CoARA network can be found here.
For more information about CoARA, visit here
Lithuanian Research Council Representative J. Šinkūnienė Honored Internationally
On December 9, 2024, elections for the Board of CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) took place. Among 11 candidates nominated by over 700 organizations was the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) candidate, Professor Jolanta Šinkūnienė, a member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Committee. Although other members were elected to the Board, this nomination holds significant importance for both LMT and the Lithuanian research community as a whole.
In presenting her candidacy for the CoARA Board elections, Professor Jolanta Šinkūnienė from Vilnius University, who also coordinates the Research Culture Working Group of the international association Science Europe, emphasized that CoARA’s mission to transform peer review can play a pivotal role in strengthening academic careers. “CoARA’s focus on the diversity of research dissemination and qualitative peer review fosters talent recognition and appreciation within the academic community, enhances research quality, and develops researcher competencies. These are fundamental conditions for creating an attractive and sustainable academic career in today’s scientific world,” said the researcher.
Professor Šinkūnienė also highlighted that expert evaluation is one of the core elements of research culture. This area receives significant attention within Science Europe, which actively participates in CoARA’s initiatives. Therefore, collaboration and idea exchange among CoARA members can meaningfully improve the current research environment.
Professor Šinkūnienė’s research interests include cross-linguistic and cross-disciplinary features of academic discourse, scientific publishing and peer review processes, academic identity, and the challenges of research evaluation and academic careers. Her studies on Lithuanian academic discourse contribute to global discussions about the peculiarities of research writing influenced by different cultural and disciplinary contexts. Research into so-called “small” languages and their unique characteristics is particularly important in the context of a multilingual academia.
The Research Council of Lithuania actively engages in international science policy-shaping activities, promoting scientific progress, international collaboration, and the development of innovative research. Thus, Professor Šinkūnienė’s expertise and commitment to advancing science are of great significance.
Last updated: 13-01-2025