Aalborg University

At the heart of this transformation is AAU’s commitment to ensuring that research is evaluated on its own merits rather than on the impact factors of the journals in which it is published. Recognizing the limitations of traditional bibliometric indicators, AAU has introduced a new two-part research assessment model that seeks to capture diverse academic contributions.

The first part of this model (A) retains standard bibliometric measures, ensuring comparability across disciplines while avoiding an overreliance on citation-based prestige metrics. The second part (B), however, represents a significant shift by incorporating qualitative indicators that emphasize open science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal engagement. This reform reflects a broader shift towards responsible research assessment, recognizing that impactful research takes many forms and should not be evaluated solely through traditional citation metrics. This means that there is a field-neutral part of the model and a second part, compiled at department level, where fields have an opportunity to be evaluated on their own terms, as the second part is a formative self-evaluation. Focus in both parts are diversity. Diversity in research outputs, outcomes and research careers. A diverse recognition of research fields and careers is possible because the second part goes beyond publications and includes other research activities and projects.

To further support this transition, some departments at AAU has introduced an "Impact Portfolio" for individual researchers, which allows researchers to highlight the broader significance of their work. This approach recognizes that different fields contribute to knowledge in diverse ways, and researchers working in implementation science, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary collaborations should not be disadvantaged in evaluation processes compared to those in more traditional, citation-heavy disciplines. Further, some departments are currently introducing specific goals for part B in their strategic performance agreements at faculty level.

Concurrently AAU seeks to support Open Science and especially Open Access publishing by launching an Open Access competency unit and an all Open Access publishing platform – AAU OPEN. This complements Part B in the research indicators and reduces friction to comply with open science principles. 

The need for reform at AAU arose from a growing awareness that conventional research assessment methods failed to capture the full value of academic contributions. There was increasing pressure from funders and policymakers to demonstrate the societal impact of research, yet many of the existing evaluation criteria were not designed to measure real-world influence. Furthermore, the movement towards Open Science at the European level underscored the need for universities to recognize a broader range of research outputs, including open-access publications, preprints, and engagement with external stakeholders.

AAU’s leadership recognized that research assessment should align with the institution’s broader strategy as a mission-driven university, where research contributes not only to academic advancement but also to addressing urgent societal challenges. To ensure that AAU's research creates tangible impact, the university has embraced a mission-oriented approach, where research, innovation, and education are strategically aligned to tackle grand societal challenges.

By embedding missions as structured frameworks for impact, AAU ensures that research is not only evaluated on traditional academic outputs but also on its contribution to solving real-world problems. This shift allows researchers to work towards long-term, interdisciplinary goals that align with national and international priorities, fostering research that is both academically excellent and socially relevant.

To support this mission-driven approach, AAU recognized the importance of a long-term roadmap. A strategic, multi-year perspective ensures that research activities are coordinated, continuously evaluated, and adapted to emerging needs. The roadmap provides a structured pathway for researchers and decision-makers, allowing them to align funding, institutional priorities, and external partnerships with AAU’s overarching goals.

By shifting towards a more flexible and inclusive assessment framework, the university ensures that researchers are evaluated based on the substance and impact of their work rather than the prestige of the journals in which they publish.

AAU’s transition towards responsible research assessment began in 2016, when the university introduced its first "Knowledge for the World" strategy. This strategy set the foundation for a research environment focused on societal impact, interdisciplinary collaboration, and problem-based learning, aligning research priorities with real-world challenges. Recognizing that traditional evaluation methods did not fully support these objectives, AAU initiated a long-term effort to reform how research was assessed and rewarded.

A key component of this reform was the adoption of mission-driven research as a vehicle for impact. Missions provide a structured, strategic framework that allows researchers to engage in long-term, high-impact projects that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national priorities, and regional challenges. By embedding missions into AAU’s research assessment practices, the university ensures that researchers can demonstrate their contributions to societal change in a systematic and recognized manner.

The development of the AAU Research Indicator in 2022 further strengthened this transition. Designed to balance quantitative and qualitative evaluation, this model was co-created with faculty representatives across multiple disciplines, alongside administrative staff and external experts. Through consultations, hearing processes, and iterative refinements, the model was designed to be flexible across research fields, ensuring that different disciplines—whether basic sciences, applied research, or mission-driven projects—were evaluated fairly.

Faculty engagement played a key role in the reform process. AAU worked to build institutional awareness, ensuring that researchers understood the rationale behind the changes. By integrating open science indicators, interdisciplinary collaborations, and societal engagement metrics, the new model reflects the reality of modern academic work.

A crucial element in sustaining this shift is AAU’s long-term roadmap for research assessment and mission-driven impact. The roadmap provides strategic alignment between university leadership, researchers, and external stakeholders, ensuring that efforts are coherent, well-resourced, and continuously improved. With this structured approach, AAU avoids short-term, fragmented initiatives and instead fosters a consistent, evolving strategy that maximizes research impact.

The introduction of the Impact Portfolio further emphasized quality over quantity, allowing researchers to highlight their most meaningful contributions, whether through publications, policy engagement, or industry collaboration. By aligning assessment criteria with AAU’s broader mission-oriented strategy, this framework ensures that research excellence is recognized beyond conventional citation-based metrics and instead measured by its ability to drive real-world change.

AAU’s reform in research assessment was not an isolated initiative, but rather the result of a long-term institutional shift that began with its 2016-2021 "Knowledge for the World 1" strategy (which has now entered its second period). This strategy emphasized the importance of aligning research with societal needs, creating an environment where knowledge was co-produced with stakeholders to generate real-world impact.

The formal development of a new research assessment model began in September 2022, when AAU initiated the design of the AAU Research Indicator. Over the following year, the model underwent extensive testing, faculty engagement, and refinement to ensure alignment with DORA and ARRA principles. The proposal was presented through institutional hearings and discussions across departments and faculties.

By June 2023, the AAU Board approved the model, marking a significant milestone in embedding responsible research assessment at the institutional level. The new system was implemented in Fall 2023, with ongoing monitoring to ensure flexibility and continuous adaptation in response to national and international developments.

AAU’s approach remains dynamic, ensuring that the research assessment framework evolves alongside broader shifts in Open Science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal engagement. By embedding responsible research assessment into AAU’s long-term strategy, the university has created a system that prioritizes research quality, impact, and inclusivity—positioning itself at the forefront of research evaluation reform.