Blog cross-posted with ALLEA and FORCE11.
Across the global research system, growing recognition of the limitations and unintended consequences of narrow, metrics-driven assessment practices has catalysed momentum for reform. Concerns about research quality, equity, and the sustainability of research careers have grown alongside progress in research infrastructures and open science practices, evolving publishing models, and the rise of AI-use in research. These shifts have underscored the need to move beyond proxy indicators and towards assessment approaches that better reflect the full range of contributions and societal impact of research. These shared challenges have given rise to diverse international reform movements, such as DORA, CoARA, the Barcelona Declaration on Open Research Information, Leiden Manifesto for Research Metrics, FOLEC-CLACSO, among others, while also highlighting the importance of disciplinary- and region-sensitive approaches that respond to diverse research cultures and priorities.
On 2 June, CoARA and DORA are co-organizing a dialogue about research assessment in the Asia-Pacific region. Co-located with the FORCE2026 Conference, this free event brings together researchers, publishers, research managers, funders, policymakers, and community representatives, including early- and mid-career researchers to take stock of the current landscape of research assessment reform in the region and discuss pathways to more efficient, equitable, and impactful evaluation systems in the future.
The full-day event will explore where the Asia-Pacific research community is on its reform journey, with an emphasis on the challenges and opportunities to build more holistic, inclusive, and state-of-the-art research assessment systems in the region. Participants will examine barriers, from entrenched incentive structures to cultural and institutional differences, and identify practical pathways to align assessment practices with the values of research excellence, openness, equity, and impact.
Recognizing that research is a global endeavour, the event will highlight how aligned and forward-looking research assessment priorities are essential for enabling researcher mobility, equitable career progression, and interdisciplinary and cross-border collaboration. By fostering dialogue across career stages, sectors, and geographies, this event aims to support cohesive and locally relevant reform in how research and researchers are recognised and rewarded.
To ensure high quality discussions with diverse actors in the Asia-Pacific research community, this event will take place in-person at Singapore Management University and with a limited capacity of 50 people. If you would like to participate, please declare your interest using the form below. We review applications on a rolling basis and will confirm your participation by 5th April at the latest. This event is free of charge.
