UAS4EUROPE Croissant Event 2024 Report
On 12 June 2024, over 100 participants attended our biennial Croissant Event focused on the ongoing research assessment reform within the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).
Patrick Brenier from DG RTD reviewed the European Research Area’s (ERA) progress since 2000, highlighting its development phases and focus areas: creating a Single Market for researchers, coordinating R&I policies, and generating new initiatives. He emphasized the 2020 relaunch of ERA aimed at integrating research, innovation, and industrial policies, while creating a better framework for researchers through CoARA.
Frank van der Zwan-Scholtz from Vereniging Hogescholen discussed how Dutch UAS are developing research through professional doctorates, fostering collaboration with industry and public authorities, and emphasizing the need for diverse research assessment practices.
A panel of experts, including Michael Arentoft (European Commission), Stephane Berghmans (EUA), Thomas Brunotte (German Association of UAS Professors), Isabelle Halleux (Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles), and Heimo Sandtner (FH Campus Wien), discussed implementing CoARA objectives. They stressed recognizing diverse research activities and contributions, particularly in applied research, and highlighted initial improvements by the ERC in assessing diverse research career paths.
The panel called for widespread accession to CoARA to enhance research assessment practices, emphasizing the importance of participation from all types of research organizations, especially Universities of Applied Sciences.
