By Rita Morais, European University Association (EUA)

Earlier in 2025, the CoARA Working Group on Reforming Academic Career Assessment released a report presenting six key lessons and insights to help guide comprehensive and structured reforms on academic career assessment. The lessons draw on an extensive mapping of reform initiatives across institutional, national, and international levels, including survey data from nearly 200 organisations across 41 countries and 11 detailed case studies.

The report links each of the six key lessons to specific case studies, survey outcomes and practical tools.

Together, the lessons highlight that academic career assessment reform is gaining global momentum, with institutions demonstrating that meaningful change is achievable; they stress that engaging academics at all levels is necessary for successful reform processes, that assessment criteria are broadening beyond research to include teaching, leadership, teamwork, and societal engagement, and highlight the value of adopting balanced approaches that combine qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Ultimately, reform requires an open and inclusive dialogue on how quality and excellence are defined and assessed within diverse academic contexts.