National and International Trends of Reform: The University of Padova CoARA Action Plan
Since its inception, CoARA has enjoyed strong momentum and broad participation in Italy: of the 800 organisations that have joined the Coalition worldwide, as many as 70 are Italian. Alongside numerous universities, major national research bodies such as CNR, INFN, INGV and the national assessment agency ANVUR are also members.
The University of Padua joined CoARA on 17 November 2022. By doing so, the University committed to promoting and supporting the ten commitments of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) through the adoption of a multi-year Action Plan. The University of Padua is also actively involved in several international Working Groups.
In September 2024, the University adopted the CoARA@Unipd 2024-2027 Action Plan . Structured around 18 actions and inspired by CoARA’s ten commitments, the plan aims to introduce reforms or updates to the evaluation practices currently in place at the University.
In December 2024, the University established its Steering Committee and Working Group for CoARA and appointed their respective coordinators. The Steering Committee, composed of academic staff, provides strategic guidance and oversees the initiatives outlined in the Action Plan. The Working Group, on the other hand, is made up of the University’s administrative leadership — heads of areas and offices (directors and designated representatives). Drawing on their expertise, they are responsible for ensuring the correct implementation and effective execution of the CoARA actions.
By joining CoARA, the university also became part of several international Working Groups:
- Supporting the alignment of research assessment systems with CoARA in biomedical disciplines through administrative reforms and governance
- Reforming Academic Career Assessment
- Towards an Inclusive Evaluation of Research (TIER)
- Global framework for research evaluation in the social sciences and the humanities (SSH)
- Towards Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment
- Alternative Assessment Approaches
The complete list of CoARA’s international Working Groups
Members
Steering Committee Members
- Matteo Millan (coordinator) Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World – DiSSGeA
- Fabio Zwirner Department of Physics and Astronomy "Galileo Galilei" – DFA and University representative in the CoARA General Assembly
- Andrea Berti Head of Research and Business Relations Area and Working Group coordinator
- Antonio Paoli Department of Biomedical Sciences – DSB and participant in CoARA WG: "Supporting the alignment of research assessment systems with CoARA in biomedical disciplines through administrative reforms and governance"
- Massimiliano Zattin Department of Geosciences and participant in CoARA WG: "Reforming Academic Career Assessment"
- Gaya Spolverato Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology – DiSCOG and participant in CoARA WG: "Towards an Inclusive Evaluation of Research (TIER)"
- Jacopo Bonetto Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music – DBC and participant in CoARA WG: "Global framework for research evaluation in the social sciences and the humanities (SSH)"
- Giorgio Maria Di Nunzio Department of Information Engineering – DEI and participant in CoARA WG: "Towards Open Infrastructures for Responsible Research Assessment"
- Cinzia Sada Department of Physics and Astronomy "Galileo Galilei" – DFA
- Tullio Vardanega Department of Mathematics "Tullio Levi-Civita" – DM
- Monica Salvadori Department of Cultural Heritage: Archaeology and History of Art, Cinema and Music – DBC
Working Group Members
- Andrea Berti (coordinator) Head of Research and Business Relations Area - ARRI
- Tommaso Meacci Head of Human Resources Area - ARU
- Gioia Grigolin Head of Communication and Marketing Area - ACoM
- Sebastiano Miccoli Head of University Library Center - CAB
- Roberta Rasa Head of Teaching and Student Services Area - ADiSS
- Manuela Marini Head of Research Office
- Francesca Mura Head of International Research Office
- Anna Maria Fusaro Head of Teaching Staff Office
- Veronica Furlan Head of Organizational Development Office
- Gioia Lovison Head of Communication Office
- Rosa Nardelli Head of Public Engagement Office
- Mauro Apostolico Member of the University Open Science Commission and representative of the CAB Digital Library Office
- Elena Pavan Head of PhD Office
Events
Events 2025
Round table “Dar valore alla ricerca”, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first European Charter for Researchers - June 27, 2025
The University of Padova's COARA Action Plan 2024-2027 - CRUI February 19, 2025
International Research Office
via Martiri della libertà 8, 35137 Padova
email: coara@unipd.it
