Institution Profile: University of Sussex

• After signing DORA, the University of Sussex set out a number of principles of responsible research metrics, including evaluating research outputs and other contributions on their intrinsic merits rather than rely on proxy metrics such as impact factors and evaluating the quality of researchers’ work beyond the confines of research publications.
• The University also committed to being explicit about the criteria used to assess the merits of a researcher’s work.
• In 2021 the pro-Vice Chancellor for research undertook a series of efforts to implement these principles into practice across Sussex University.
• This implementation plan included an audit of all current research assessment systems in use, including formal procedures for hiring and promoting researchers; an awareness raising campaign, including provision of training for researchers and professional service staff; internal and external updates about progress made; regular monitoring and updating of the implementation process; and setting up an anonymous reporting process for breaches of DORA principles.
• Further plans to ensure effectiveness of the implementation of DORA include: committing to giving candidates and staff reviewing applications sufficient time to prepare for assessments and avoid overburden them with work; addressing researchers’ concerns about departing from established assessment practices; advanced planning of assessments to ensure provision of unconscious bias training.