IPHES-CERCA strengthens its commitment to a fairer and more responsible research assessment

IPHES-CERCA has recently formalised its adhesion to CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment), an international initiative that promotes a profound transformation of research assessment systems to make them more equitable, transparent and better adapted to the diversity of scientific practices.

Driven by Science Europe and the European University Association, and established in July 2022 with the support of the European Commission, CoARA aims to move beyond assessment models based almost exclusively on bibliometric indicators, by recognising the plurality of outcomes, impacts and contributions of research activity.

Currently, more than 800 organisations from over 40 countries are members of this coalition, sharing a commitment to implementing assessment standards that take into account the specificities of each scientific discipline, as well as the diversity of institutions and professional career paths.

In this context, joining CoARA represents a strategic step for IPHES-CERCA. As an interdisciplinary research centre specialising in Prehistory and Human Evolution, many of its core activities (such as field research, knowledge transfer, teaching, science communication and social impact) are not always adequately recognised by traditional assessment systems.

As noted by Isabel Cáceres, Head of Research at IPHES-CERCA, being part of CoARA “will help us implement an assessment model that truly values the diversity and quality of the centre’s scientific contributions, as well as the knowledge we generate and disseminate about the past, present and future of humankind”.

Membership in the coalition will enable IPHES-CERCA to more accurately identify the shortcomings of conventional assessment indicators when these are not aligned with institutional values or with the real practices of its scientific community.

Within this framework, throughout 2026 the centre will promote a co-creation process involving research staff and governance bodies to develop its own Action Plan, in compliance with the commitments acquired as a signatory of the CoARA Agreement.

Through this initiative, IPHES-CERCA reaffirms its commitment to actively contributing to the transformation of the European research system, promoting a more responsible, inclusive and coherent research assessment aligned with the values of open science and service to society.