In January, the University of Bath launched new research assessment guidance and training for its Responsible Research Assessment principles.
Responsible Research Assessment, or ‘RRA’ for short, is a key deliverable in our strategic Research Culture Action Plan, reflecting the University’s commitment to the Declaration of Research Assessment (DORA) and ensuring its research assessment practices are fair, robust, transparent and inclusive.
The University is aiming to ensure all assessment processes - including promotions, prizes, recruitment, or funding competitions - are compliant with these RRA principles by January 2027.
New Working Group to support you
The new RRA Working Group has been set up to help embed these new principles effectively and to support colleagues who are responsible for, and involved in, the process of assessing research. Colleagues are now invited to submit their local practices for peer review and advice.
Chaired by Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Prof Rachel Arnold, the group will meet quarterly and is made up of a broad, representative set of staff from across the University’s academic and research community.
How we can help
Are you responsible for a local research assessment process such as a departmental or faculty/school prize, pump-priming funding, or recruitment?
- perhaps you’re not sure whether it’s aligned with RRA principles
- maybe you’d like help ensuring it is compliant
- or you’ve made changes and would now like it peer reviewed
Good news! The RRA Working Group can help.
How to submit your process
Please send an email to the RRA Working Group at research-culture@bath.ac.uk with the following documents:
- an overview of the scheme and its criteria (this should be the web pages or documents which describe the scheme to those it applies to, not your own summary of it)
- any application forms associated with the process
- where available, any briefing information or score sheets provided to the panel
Deadline for May submissions: Thursday 30 April 2026
All documents submitted by 30 April will be reviewed at the RRA Working Group meeting on 7 May*. Feedback will be provided within 10 working days of the meeting date.
Future submissions
The RRA Working Group meets quarterly so if you miss the deadline for the first session, future 2026 submissions will be reviewed as follows:
- deadline for August submissions: Monday 17 August
- deadline for November submissions: Wednesday 18 November
*Please note that if demand is high, submissions will be dealt with in the order they're received and may need to be deferred to a later date if we reach capacity.
Any questions?
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Research Culture team at research-culture@bath.ac.uk if you have any questions.