Research in Action
Exploring, testing and co-creating responsible research assessment across diverse contexts.
Through interconnected Experiences, OPENRAM investigates research assessment practices and develops new approaches to recognising the diversity of global science.
Exploring Research Assessment in Context
Research assessment practices are shaped by the institutional, disciplinary, geographical and political environments in which they operate. Understanding these differences is essential for developing evaluation approaches that recognise diverse research contributions and support more equitable knowledge production.
OPENRAM brings its approach into real-world research environments through a series of interconnected Experiences. Combining case studies, technical implementations and participatory actions, these activities explore how research assessment systems operate across different contexts and how they can be transformed.
These Experiences contribute directly to the development of the Multiversatory by generating empirical evidence, identifying data and methodological challenges, and co-creating context-sensitive approaches with research communities and other stakeholders.
Three Areas of Exploration
Our research brings together three interconnected perspectives on the transformation of research assessment.
Contextualised Evaluation
Understanding research assessment in its institutional, disciplinary and societal contexts.
Epistemic Equity
Making diverse knowledge systems, research priorities and contributions visible.
Equitable Collaborations
Rethinking how international research partnerships are understood and evaluated.
Investigating the Diversity of Research Systems
Contextualised Evaluation
Understanding evaluation within different governance structures, missions and local priorities.
Research assessment systems operate within different governance structures, institutional missions and policy environments. This research area investigates how evaluation practices reflect these conditions and how they influence the recognition of diverse research contributions.
Through comparative case studies and engagement with research communities, OPENRAM examines evaluation practices at individual, institutional and national levels.
Particular attention is given to diverse research outputs, limitations of existing data sources and the alignment between evaluation criteria and local research priorities. These investigations will contribute to context-sensitive indicators, assessment frameworks and policy recommendations.
Epistemic Equity
Exploring representation, visibility and inequalities in global knowledge production.
Research information systems shape which scientific contributions become visible and how research performance is understood.
Differences in database coverage, publication practices, language and disciplinary representation can produce significant inequalities in research assessment.
OPENRAM investigates these inequalities by examining data sources, classification systems, journal lists, evaluation criteria and research funding practices. Particular attention is given to knowledge production in underrepresented regions and communities, including the Global South.
These investigations will contribute to a better understanding of epistemic diversity and to more inclusive approaches to research evaluation.
Equitable Collaborations
Exploring reciprocity, participation and fairness in international research partnerships.
International scientific collaboration connects researchers, institutions and knowledge communities across geographical and disciplinary boundaries. These partnerships operate within unequal distributions of resources, infrastructures, visibility and decision-making power.
OPENRAM explores the conditions that shape equitable international research partnerships, with particular attention to collaborations involving Africa, Latin America and Europe.
Combining qualitative investigations, quantitative analyses and participatory engagement, this research area examines collaborative practices, research agendas, institutional arrangements and knowledge contributions.
The findings will inform the development of an evaluation framework for more balanced, reciprocal and inclusive global research partnerships.
How We Work
OPENRAM brings together three complementary forms of research and experimentation to explore assessment practices and co-create new approaches.
Case Studies
In-depth investigations of research assessment practices, governance arrangements, data systems and collaborative relationships in specific institutional, disciplinary and geographical settings.
These studies generate empirical insights and support comparisons across contexts.
Technical Implementations
Practical development and testing of data integration methods, indicators, analytical approaches and research information tools.
These activities address technical challenges identified through the Experiences and contribute to the Multiversatory.
Participatory Actions
Collaborative activities involving researchers, institutions, policymakers and other communities in the development and refinement of research assessment practices.
Dialogue, experimentation and collective learning support the co-creation of context-sensitive approaches.
Research in Action Meets the Multiversatory
The Experiences and the Multiversatory develop through continuous interaction. Research activities generate evidence and identify challenges, while the Multiversatory provides data, methods and analytical perspectives for further exploration and experimentation.
Generate Evidence
Investigate assessment practices, contextual challenges and inequalities across research systems.
Inform the Multiversatory
Translate empirical findings into data requirements, methods and assessment approaches.
Test and Refine
Apply and adapt approaches through technical implementations and participatory actions.
From Evidence to Research Assessment Reform
The OPENRAM Experiences will generate comparative insights, methodological contributions and practical resources for researchers, evaluators, policymakers and research organisations.
Planned outcomes include research publications, comparative mappings, technical guidance, evaluation frameworks and policy recommendations supporting more contextualised and equitable research assessment.
Opening Research Assessment to Diverse Contexts
Through empirical investigation, technical experimentation and stakeholder participation, OPENRAM seeks to contribute to responsible research assessment practices that reflect the diversity of research systems and knowledge communities.
Advancing contextualised evaluation, epistemic equity and equitable global research collaborations.