How can
we help you?

Frequently Asked Questions

This toolkit can be used by anyone working in a Research Performing Organization (RPO) or in a Research Funding Organization (RFO) and aiming to contribute to making evaluation processes and practices fairer and more inclusive. 

This self-assessment toolkit can be used in RPOs and RFOs at different levels. It can be useful for the Rectorate, Faculties, Human Resources offices, EDI offices, officers in charge of preparing evaluation panels, evaluation committees and anyone interested in promoting a responsible research assessment within their institution. The toolkit provides concrete measures with clear explanations of how they work. 

This toolkit provides a structured approach to identify measures aimed at supporting your institution to move towards fair and inclusive evaluation of researchers. Through a step-by-step structure, the toolkit leads you towards the identification of targeted measures:

  • Firstly, to define whether you are interested in measures for RPOs or RFOs.
  • Secondly, to define the type of measures you are looking for (e.g., policies, data collection, evaluation practices).
  • Thirdly, questions assessing whether your institution already adopts specific measures (e.g., narrative CVs, bias training, lottery).
  • As you consult the different measures, you might realize that some of them cannot be adopted and implemented in your specific context. However, you might see that you can still identify another best practice aiming to solve the same challenge. In relation to this, have other universities or faculties / funders adopted measures to address this challenge? 
  • You might also face resistance on some of the topics and proposed measures. In that case, you could consider how to get more stakeholders on board. For example, who can you talk to in order to raise their awareness? How could you convince different groups to support these changes?
  • At the end of the process, you can also download a document which lists measures that are relevant for you and your institution. 

By taking the time to go through the toolkit, you will be better prepared to contribute to creating an inclusive research culture in science. 

No. The TIER Toolkit is designed as a self-assessment instrument for use within your own organisation. No data entered in any questionnaire or assessment form is collected, stored, transmitted, or processed by CoARA or any third party.

 

  • No data collection. Responses to questionnaires remain entirely on your device and are never sent to any server.

 

  • No tracking or analytics. The Toolkit does not use cookies, tracking pixels, or analytics tools that could identify individual users or organisations.

 

  • No third-party sharing. Since no data is collected, no data is shared with or transferred to any third party, under any circumstances.

 

Full confidentiality. Your self-assessment outputs are for your organisation’s internal use only. CoARA has no access to them at any stage.

 

For any questions regarding data protection and the TIER Toolkit, please contact the TIER Working Group at silvia.penati@mib.infn.it. Data controller for any other CoARA-related processing activities: CoARA – Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment.