KRECon 2023: OPUS workshop on reforming research(er) assessment

• October 18, 2023

In an era of transformative change in the world of research, the questions that echo loudly are – What is the true role of research and researchers? What needs to change in current assessment systems and practices? How can we create a more sustainable research funding landscape? At the upcoming KRECon 2023 conference, taking place at the National Library of Technology in Prague on November 9-10, 2023, you’ll have the chance to find the answers and be a catalyst for change.

The OPUS workshop, scheduled for November 9, from 10:00 to 12:00 led by our team experts: Gareth O’Neill from Technopolis Group and Emma Day from Vitae. The workshop will delve deep into discussions on reforming research(er) assessment.

This year, KRECon 2023 takes a deep dive into the future of research assessment. Three distinct sessions, alongside a stimulating panel discussion, will ignite dialogue and innovation:

• Session 1: Reforming Research Assessment
• Session 2: Researcher Career Assessment
• Session 3: Research Grant Assessment
• Panel Discussion: The Future of Research(er) Assessment

The central focus is a critical evaluation of existing practices, accompanied by discussions on transformative reforms that can elevate research and researcher evaluation across diverse domains.

Research assesment and its role

Research assessment plays a vital role in shaping research culture, funding decisions, and career advancement. In our ever-evolving research landscape, it’s crucial to explore more accurate methods for assessing research impact and value, fostering a robust research environment.

Current evaluation methods face scrutiny for their limitations and biases. Metrics like publication quantity and citations as proxies for research quality and impact are outdated. These methods, with narrow criteria, influence recognition, rewards, and incentives, often leading to excessive output and premature publication. This has economic consequences as publishers increase content annually. Research institutions invest public funds in publications, with a potential solution lying in a more sensible evaluation approach.

About the conference

Since 2010, the Knowledge, Research, Education Conferences (KRECon) have been a cornerstone of intellectual exchange. Hosted at the National Library of Technology, these gatherings unite global and local experts in higher education, research, and innovation. The aim? To challenge the status quo and provoke new, unexplored perspectives on pressing topics, some of which are yet to find solid ground in the Czech Republic.

Who Should Attend?

• Governmental policymakers responsible for Research Performing Organisations’ assessment, including Higher Education Institutions.
• Higher education and research institution leaders, from rectors to directors of research institutes and doctoral schools.
• Professionals and support staff dedicated to doctoral education.
• Academics, senior researchers, and early-career researchers.
• Non-governmental organizations engaged in data collection, career tracking, and consultancy.

The primary language of the conference is English, ensuring accessibility to a global audience. Importantly, KRECon 2023 is open to all, and attendance is free of charge.

The KRECon 2023 Conference Board, comprising distinguished figures from academia and policy, will steer the discussions:

• Tomáš Polívka (Vice-chair of the RDI Council), Czech Republic – Chair
• Eva Dibuszová (Head of Department for Strategy and Development at the National Library of Technology), Czech Republic
• Pavel Doleček (Deputy Minister for Science, Research and Innovation), Czech Republic
• Eva Hnátková (Open Science Coordinator at the National Library of Technology/University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Czech Republic
• Melita Kovačević (Professor at University of Zagreb/Vice-Chair of PRIDE Network), Croatia
• Martin Loebl (Vice-chair of the Learned Society), Czech Republic
• Gareth O’Neill (Principal Consultant on Open Science at Technopolis Group), The Netherlands
• Martin Svoboda (Director of National Library of Technology), Czech Republic

The KRECon 2023 Conference is organised by the National Library of Technology in Prague (NTK) under the patronage of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MEYS, MŠMT in Czech).

Join here and explore the future of research assessment!