OPUS consortium partner Eurodoc Releases First CoARA Action Plan

• October 5, 2023

The European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers (Eurodoc) signed the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) agreement on September 29th, 2022, thereby becoming one of the early signatories. Eurodoc is committed to actively working towards reforming the European research assessment system and welcomes the initiatives coming from CoARA.

Eurodoc’s Vision and Mission

Eurodoc’s Vision: A fair and sustainable research culture where early career researchers are treated with respect and have access to long-term and stable career pathways.

Eurodoc’s Mission: To advocate for positive change in the policies, culture, and environment that affect the quality of training, well-being, and employment conditions of early career researchers.

Guiding Values and Principles

Eurodoc’s daily activities are grounded in participative democracy and decision-making that aims to constructively build consensus. It is a collective endeavor to involve and empower every individual while keeping the best interests of the wider community in mind. Eurodoc’s culture is centered on mutual respect and mutual valorization of each other’s capabilities, skills, and aspirations.

Developing the CoARA Action Plan

Eurodoc is committed to developing the CoARA Action Plan in close collaboration with its member associations to ensure that the work aligns with the community’s needs and that they are actively involved in any change processes.

The process involves proposing the action plan, milestones, and assessment guidelines by the administrative board in consultation with key internal stakeholders, such as member associations and relevant working groups. Formal approval and adoption will be confirmed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the highest decision-making body.

Involving Researchers

Eurodoc represents early career researchers, and all its active volunteers are researchers. Member associations that form Eurodoc are national organizations representing early career researchers, with many of their active volunteers being researchers. Eurodoc will actively interact with its international and diverse network to implement its action plan.

Sharing Good Practices

Eurodoc members, including member associations, will be actively involved in the development and revision process through consultation and co-creation. Regular meetings are institutionalized to serve as a platform for sharing good practices and facilitating knowledge exchange. Eurodoc offers open access to its resources and encourages knowledge exchange between diverse groups of organizations.

Capacity and Resources

Eurodoc is run by volunteers and does not have access to structural funding. Projects are prioritized based on their importance for the mission and vision, as well as their potential impact on improving the careers and conditions of early career researchers.

Milestones for Action Plan Development

The development of the action plan and milestones is envisioned as an iterative two-year process involving the community to ensure progress and adaptability. Key milestones include:

• Formulation of commitments
• Exchange with member associations and working groups
• Creating an overview of assessment areas
• Receiving feedback from member associations
• Drafting assessment guidelines
• Confirmation and adoption at the AGM
• Iterative process for implementation, testing, and revision

Conclusion

Eurodoc is committed to its mission and vision of promoting a fair and sustainable research culture. Through active engagement with its member associations and the broader research community, Eurodoc aims to develop a CoARA Action Plan that aligns with the needs and aspirations of early career researchers in Europe. In doing so, Eurodoc seeks to contribute to positive change in research assessment practices and foster a more inclusive and equitable research environment.

Date of Publication: 04.10.2023

List of Authors (Board)

• Pil Maria Saugmann
• Hannah Schoch
• Sebastian Dahle
• Devriş İşler
• Sarah Pilia
• Aleksandra Lewandowska

List of Contributors (Others)

• Oleksandr Berezko
• Linnea Carlsson
• Nicola Dengo

Eurodoc, the European Council of Doctoral Candidates and Junior Researchers, is a grassroots federation of 25 national associations of early career researchers (ECRs) from 23 countries across Europe. Eurodoc was established in 2002 and is based in Brussels. As a representative of doctoral candidates and junior researchers at the European level, Eurodoc engages with all major stakeholders in research and innovation in Europe.

View Eurodoc Statement here