DORA – FHNW for fair Research Assessment

The FHNW is committed to fair research assessment

The FHNW is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and one of the signatories of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). The FHNW is committed to further developing the evaluation of research, researchers, and research institutions, thereby recognizing the diversity of research activities, practices, and results.

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) is a global initiative that aims to improve the ways in which scientific research results are evaluated by funding organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders. The overarching goal is to reduce dependency on journal-based metrics such as journal impact factors and citations and to create a culture that focuses on a more nuanced understanding of quality and relevance.

As one of Switzerland's leading universities of applied sciences, the FHNW is actively involved in teaching, research, continuing education, and services—in an innovative and practice-oriented manner. Its wide range of courses, practical approach, innovative, application-oriented research, and global network make the FHNW a diverse and attractive educational institution, a sought-after partner for industry, and an attractive employer in northwestern Switzerland. In its work, the FHNW attaches great importance to research and teaching that has a direct impact at the international, national, and regional levels, and publishes in both English and German.

The signing of DORA in June 2025 demonstrates the FHNW’s ongoing commitment to reducing its reliance on journal-based metrics and considering a wide range of criteria in the recruitment, promotion, and evaluation of researchers and their research, including qualitative indicators such as impact on policy and practice. The FHNW is a regionally oriented university of applied sciences and arts that works closely with industry, the arts and culture, civil society organizations, and politics to ensure that research results are accessible and can be put to use quickly. It is welcomed and encouraged that researchers have a strong practical focus. This focus is reflected in the researchers’ diverse career paths. They represent their field and its research findings in relevant scientific and professional committees as well as in the public sphere. The FHNW supports researchers in developing a broad range of skills through qualification measures, is transparent about career models and requirements, and takes particular care in the identification and selection processes to ensure that professors can demonstrate their achievements in the assessment in line with the broad requirements profile.

The implementation of DORA at the FHNW is coordinated by the Vice President University Development and Human Resources FHNW. Accordingly, questions about DORA can be directed to Lars Bühler, Head of Human Resources FHNW.