Background
Between 18 September and 19 October 2025, the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) conducted a survey on research assessment, gathering direct evidence from current and former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellows and alumni on their experiences and perceptions of the topic. It explored how researchers and research outputs are currently evaluated, the continued influence of traditional indicators and definitions of excellence, experiences of bias and unequal treatment, and attitudes towards ongoing reforms aimed at making assessment practices broader, fairer, and more inclusive.
The findings of the survey will be showcased at a public online event on 7 October 2026 at 12:30–14:30 CEST. The event will provide a first presentation of the results, highlighting key trends emerging from the responses and their relevance to current discussions on research assessment reform in Europe and beyond. Particular attention will be given to the perspectives of researchers themselves: how assessment practices affect careers and opportunities, where respondents see persistent challenges, and how far reforms are being experienced in practice.
An open discussion will follow the presentation. Participants will be invited to reflect on the findings, share perspectives from different institutional, disciplinary, career-stage and geographical contexts, and discuss what the evidence means for the next phase of research assessment reform. The event will also provide an opportunity to consider how researchers, research-performing organisations, funders, policymakers and other stakeholders can help translate reform principles into meaningful changes in assessment practices.
By bringing together survey evidence and community perspectives, the event aims to create a space for constructive dialogue between research assessment policy and researchers’ lived experiences. The discussion will also help inform the MCAA’s continuing policy and advocacy work on responsible, inclusive and evidence-based research assessment.
