SDU CoARA Action Plan

The strategical aim of the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is to be known and recognized for ground-breaking and transformative research, and to be become a world leader in several research areas: It is only by retaining, developing and attracting the greatest talents that we can create the excellent environments needed to create value for and with society (cf. SDU’s strategy). These goals require excellent research environments that stimulate talent development, as well as ambitious researchers and students, achieved e.g. through an excellent organizational and physical framework that attract, develop, and release talent. To achieve that objective, SDU must ensure a freely engaging and stimulating university environment, that support good opportunities for continuous development. Therefore, SDU agrees that the assessment of research, researchers and research organizations must recognizes the diversity of outputs, practices and activities that maximizes the quality and impact of research – and that this requires basing assessment primarily on qualitative judgement, for which peer-review is central, supported by responsible use of quantitative indicators. SDU supports the general recommendation of the CoARA Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment and commits to participate in the shared vision of change in assessment practices for research, researchers and research performing organizations with the overarching goal to maximize the quality and impact of research: For the sake of a broader perspective on the appropriate use of data, all calculations and analyzes carried out at SDU are accompanied by data ethics considerations that aim to ensure a responsible interpretation and use of the displayed information. SDU recognizes the coalition’s goal of being an inclusive and collaborative space to advance together towards a higher quality, more impactful and efficient and inclusive research system.