Beyond Metrics: Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)

“To empower researchers to unlock their full potential and develop suitable approaches for assessing their contribution, structural reforms are required—reforms that promote excellence, openness, and diversity in research and teaching.”

Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., President of the University of Potsdam (2026)

The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is a global network of universities, non-university research institutions, research funding organizations, and scholarly societies. CoARA was established to initiate a cultural shift in research assessment—working together to develop and establish new principles.

CoARA promotes a fair, transparent, and holistic assessment of research and researchers. Beyond metrics and publication lists, the full spectrum of scholarly contributions - from Open Science and teamwork to societal impact - is to be recognized. The network now includes nearly 800 institutions from more than 50 countries.

The University of Potsdam joined CoARA in January 2024 and is a member of CoARA’s National Chapter Germany. A university-wide, interdisciplinary working group has been constituted by the Committee for Research and Early Career Researchers (FNK), under the leadership of Professor Ralph Gräf, to facilitate the implementation of the CoARA principles.

In January 2025, the Senate of the University of Potsdam adopted the Preliminary CoARA Action Plan.

The President of the University of Potsdam, Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., serves on the CoARA Steering Board for a term ending in 2027.