Responsible Academic Assessment: From Principles to Practice (Slides)

Presentation for the 2026 NRIN Half Day Symposium on Fostering a Positive Research Culture Universities rely on academic assessment for high‑stakes decisions on hiring, promotion, and recognition - making it a powerful, yet underused lever for positive research culture. Despite its importance, assessment remains under‑studied, policies are unevenly implemented, and committee members often lack preparation for the ethical, psychological, and organizational challenges involved. We present a co‑funded initiative supported by Open Science NL, with Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) as embedding university, to strengthen assessment in line with Recognition & Rewards. The project integrates three pillars: (1) a review of good academic practices, (2) evidence‑informed interventions and tools for assessment committees, and (3) fostering a vibrant internal-external community of practice. Our approach combines policy alignment, empirical inquiry, and design grounded in social psychology, ethics, and research integrity. We will share research results, design logic, rollout at TU/e, and early lessons, and discuss opportunities and challenges for adaptation across institutions. By connecting policy to everyday committee practice and lived experience, the project aims to reduce strains on wellbeing as well as bias in assessment, improve procedural fairness, and increase transparency - advancing a healthier, more inclusive research culture. Bio: Julma Braat is a senior HR Policy Advisor at TU/e with over twenty years of experience in talent development, academic career policy, and organizational change. She is one of the driving forces behind TU/e’s Recognition & Rewards program, shaping policies that promote diverse academic profiles and more holistic approaches to assessment. She played a key role in developing innovative instruments such as the biographical sketch and development matrix, now used to support evidence‑based and person‑centered evaluation practices. Her work also includes designing and implementing the Irène Curie Fellowship program, which has significantly increased the recruitment of female academic staff. She frequently shares her expertise through guest lectures and participation in national HR and policy networks. In her workshop contributions, she combines strategic insight with practical experience from the daily realities of academic HR. Dr Andrea Kis is a policy and research advisor at TU/e and Universities of the Netherlands (UNL). Her research centers the psychology of science with a focus on early‑career trajectories, career assessment, research values, perceived fairness, researcher wellbeing, and integrity. Building on her doctoral work on academic career sustainability and contributions to responsible academic assessment, she bridges scholarship and practice by translating behavioral insights into evidence‑informed policies and interventions. Her work aims to foster responsible, inclusive academic practices and support sustainable organizational change through context‑sensitive approaches to ethics, integrity, and wellbeing in higher education. Links: An overview of project outputs (including e.g., training slides, RPG material, and executive report) Julma Braat on LinkedIn Andrea Kis on LinkedIn