On June 12–13, 2025, the in-person meeting of the Research Assessment Expert Group (RAEG) took place at the Szentágothai Research Centre in Pécs, Hungary, as part of the EDUC alliance.

The main goals of the meeting were to reflect on progress made in implementing CoARA principles, strengthen collaboration between RAEG and CDEG experts, finalize the joint analytical report, and discuss key milestones and future strategies in the reform of research assessment.

Over the two-day event, participants worked on aligning approaches to national and institutional reforms, shared experiences of implementing change within their universities, and presented updates on the local adoption of CoARA-aligned practices.

Special attention was given to the evolution of the HRS4R framework from 2005 to 2023, particularly from the perspective of research assessment and career diversity. A joint RAEG+CDEG panel closed the meeting, bringing together representatives of multiple working groups in a hybrid format for an open discussion on next steps.

The Pécs meeting marked a significant step in consolidating the efforts of EDUC partners toward responsible research assessment reform in Europe and contributed to strengthening cooperation between expert communities of EDUC-WIDE.

On June 10, 2025, we hosted a truly engaging workshop at Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University as part of the EDUC-WIDE project (Horizon Europe) “Building Researchers’ Careers”
The event brought together researchers and administrative staff who are actively shaping their professional journeys, both within and beyond academia.

One of the highlights was the presentation from the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), where Ulyana Kulchytska, Deputy Rector, HR Director, shared UCU’s approach to strategic HR. Her talk showcased how thoughtful HR practices can support researchers at all stages — from individual career path planning to long-term academic growth.

We also had the pleasure of learning from:
✔️ Iryna Shevchenko (KhAI) – on integrating gender balance into research careers
✔️ Tetiana Hrynyshak (PNU) – on using qualitative indicators to evaluate research career progress
✔️ Núria Sánchez-Pantoja (Jaume I University, Spain) – on good practices in research career advisory and equal opportunities aspects in HR.
The event wrapped up with a practical session on creating an Individual Development Plan (IDP) — helping participants map their strengths, goals, and next steps for career advancement.
A big thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners for making this workshop such a success!