OSQuAR-UCA Project
A central project to the CoARA action plan
To support the reform of research assessment, UCA was selected as a beneficiary of the CoARABoost 2025 call for proposals with the OSQuAR-UCA project (“Integrating Open Science into the Qualitative Research Assessment Reform at UCA”). The project aims to integrate open science practices into qualitative assessment processes. The project is led by a dedicated project manager, who is responsible for coordinating activities throughout 2025 and into early 2026, under the supervision of the Open Science and Information Systems Program Manager.
The OSQuAR-UCA project is central to the CoARA action plan and actively supports Priority 4, “Transforming research assessment practices in light of open science,” of the UCA roadmap.
As part of this project, UCA is pursuing three objectives organized into Work Packages (WP) to translate its commitments to CoARA into sustainable institutional practices. The project is structured around three complementary pillars: first, it aims to transform the culture of assessment through community engagement (WP1). It also involves the co-development, together with researchers, of evaluation criteria based on open science, in order to better recognize the diversity of contributions and align with CoARA’s principles (WP2). Finally, it aims to integrate the HRS4R strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of these transformations (WP3).
3 objectives structured into Work Packages
WP1 : Raise awareness and support the university community
CoARA Commitments 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9The objective of WP1 is to support the academic community in understanding and adopting the principles of the research assessment reform led by CoARA. In particular, it aims to explain the limitations of bibliometric indicators used in isolation (impact factor, h-index) and to present more qualitative assessment approaches that take into account the diversity of scientific activities.
As part of this initiative, a training session for doctoral students was organized to address the challenges of open science and narrative CVs. The session provided an overview of trends in research assessment, the principles of qualitative assessment, and examples of how to highlight various scientific contributions.
Webinars (in french) featuring experts have also been posted on UCA’s Science Ouverte website to provide resources and feedback on these new assessment practices.
As part of this initiative, a training session for doctoral students was organized to address the challenges of open science and narrative CVs. The session provided an overview of trends in research assessment, the principles of qualitative assessment, and examples of how to highlight various scientific contributions.
Webinars (in french) featuring experts have also been posted on UCA’s Science Ouverte website to provide resources and feedback on these new assessment practices.
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presented by Fabien BORGET - Co-organizer of the French national chapter CoARA
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The narrative CV as an instrument for reforming research evaluation: between promises and resistance | 03/04/2026
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presented by Frédérique BORDIGNON - Scientific integrity officer and bibliometrics officer at École des Ponts, and researcher at the LISIS laboratory
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WP2 : Define new criteria for assessing research
CoARA Commitments 1, 2, 3, 6WP2 aims to develop a framework for the qualitative assessment of research that incorporates the principles of open science and takes into account the diversity of research activities: open-access publications, research data, software, preprints, doctoral supervision, and scientific and societal impact.
A working group (WG CoARA-UCA) comprising members of the Research Council and the Council of Teaching and Research Faculty (CP2E) was established as part of the project. Meeting monthly, the group identified research contributions that should be better recognized in assessment processes and defined new criteria tailored to open research practices.
The CoARA-UCA Working Group’s efforts focus in particular on changes in recruitment and career assessment practices. These efforts will lead to the development of recommendations. In the longer term, this work will result in the creation of resources for assessors and research staff to promote a more transparent and multidimensional assessment process that is tailored to the diversity of academic trajectories and scientific output.
A working group (WG CoARA-UCA) comprising members of the Research Council and the Council of Teaching and Research Faculty (CP2E) was established as part of the project. Meeting monthly, the group identified research contributions that should be better recognized in assessment processes and defined new criteria tailored to open research practices.
The CoARA-UCA Working Group’s efforts focus in particular on changes in recruitment and career assessment practices. These efforts will lead to the development of recommendations. In the longer term, this work will result in the creation of resources for assessors and research staff to promote a more transparent and multidimensional assessment process that is tailored to the diversity of academic trajectories and scientific output.
WP3 : Integrate these changes into institutional practices in a sustainable way
CoARA Commitments 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10The project also aims to incorporate these new approaches into the university’s internal procedures, in alignment with the HRS4R strategy and in collaboration with the relevant departments. Tools, recommendations, and support resources will be developed to assist assessors and research staff in implementing these new criteria. This initiative aims to ensure a sustainable evolution of assessment practices within the institution.