Research and researcher assessment happens continuously across the University, informing decisions on everything from recruitment and promotion, to funding and recognition.

As a DORA signatory, we are committed to ensuring our research assessment practices are robust, transparent, and inclusive, that they support our people, and help to maximise the quality and impact of our research.

We launched our updated principles, guidance and training for Responsible Research Assessment (RRA) in January 2026 as a key component of our Research Culture Action Plan.

The University's aim is to ensure that all assessment processes – including promotions, prizes, recruitment, and funding competitions – are compliant by January 2027.

Ten months in, we're really pleased that many teams across the University have made significant progress in completing training and updating central and local processes.

Our progress to date

Recruitment and promotion

Colleagues in HR have been working to update central recruitment processes to align with RRA guidance:

a new video offers support for candidates to understand how to best present their research outputs when applying for a job.
we will also shortly have updated questions on Stonefish and a link to RRA guidance from adverts for jobs with a research remit.
we have been working collaboratively with HR to ensure the new academic promotions framework reflects RRA guidance - including clearer criteria, changes to the use of publication reports, and a broader inclusion of contributions.

Training

Since January, 154 people have completed the RRA online training course and 82 have attended in-person training. This includes 85% of all frequent assessors, for whom the training is mandatory.

After completing the online course, 84.2% of people said they felt quite or very positive about RRA, compared to 53.1% before starting the training.

RRA Working Group

The RRA Working Group was set up earlier this year to help embed these new principles effectively and to act as a peer review function that supports colleagues who are responsible for, and involved in, assessing research.

To date, the Working Group has reviewed and provided feedback and support on six submitted processes, including the academic promotions framework, a Faculty REF Output review process, a research output award, and the University's sabbatical scheme.

Flora McNab, Executive Officer (University Research), Vice Chancellor's Office said:

Over the summer, we reviewed the University Research Sabbatical Scheme assessment process and submitted it to the Responsible Research Assessment Working Group (RRAWG) for feedback. Their constructive input helped us strengthen the clarity and robustness of the process, making it more transparent, consistent and fair for both applicants and assessors.

What's left to do before January 2027

To meet the University's target, all Faculties, the School, Departments, and teams have until 31 January 2027 to review and update all local processes to ensure alignment with our RRA principles.

Where to go for training, help and support

Specific advice

if you’d like to check if a specific process is aligned with RRA, you can now submit it to the RRA Working Group (RRAWG) for peer review, support, and feedback. The next submission deadline is 10 November.
read more about how RRAWG works in our news announcement
contact the group at research-culture@bath.ac.uk to submit your process.

RRA training

Our two-part training provides an overview of RRA and includes practical steps for assessment and scenario-based examples:

The training is mandatory for frequent assessors (Heads of Department, Associate Deans for Research, Deans and Academic Staff Committee members).

While optional for everyone else, it is highly encouraged if you're involved in carrying out or supporting research assessment processes such as promotions, recruitment, awards, prizes and internal funding calls.