recognize ORD (recORD) – a swissuniversities project

recognize ORD (recORD) is a collaborative initiative bringing together 12 Swiss higher education institutions (HEIs), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and FORS, a national research data infrastructure. Together, they aim to advance the recognition and valuation of Open Research Data (ORD) practices in three key areas:
  • Research proposal assessment
  • Recruitment and career development of research personnel
  • Evaluation of research-performing institutions
The consortium represents a diverse range of institutions, including large and small universities, universities of applied sciences, and partners from the ETH domain. Additionally, the involvement of SNSF and FORS has ensured that perspectives from funders, researchers, and research infrastructures are integrated into the discussion.
Running from January 2024 to March 2025, the project has conducted an extensive analysis of best practices in ORD recognition, drawing from a literature review and a landscape analysis. Three national workshops were organized, each focusing on one of the key assessment areas. Based on these discussions, the consortium has developed concrete recommendations for improving the recognition of ORD practices.
The project’s findings and recommendations are being shared through various channels to foster broader adoption and implementation.

Publications

Recognising Open Research Data in Research Assessment: Overview of Practices and Challenges

Assessing and Enabling Open Research Data Practices in Swiss Higher Education Institutions: A Comprehensive Landscape Analysis

  • Araujo, P., Bornatici, C., Ochsner, M. & Heers, M. (2024). Assessing and Enabling Open Research Data Practices in Swiss Higher Education Institutions: A Comprehensive Landscape Analysis. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12755475

Final Report of the recORD project

The recORD consortium has put forward nine recommendations aimed at enhancing the recognition of contributions to Open Research Data (ORD). These recommendations—focused on principles, criteria, parameterisation, and implementation—offer a strong and broadly supported foundation for improving how ORD efforts are acknowledged. In addition, the project has mapped out existing processes where these recommendations could be effectively integrated, spanning key areas such as proposal evaluation, career progression, and institutional accreditation.

To the report

Leading house: Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW)

Participating institutions:

Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (ZHAW)

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zurich (ETH Zurich)

Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI)

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

University of Lausanne

University of Neuchâtel

Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale (HES-SO)

Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS)

University of Bern

University of Zurich

Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)

University of Fribourg

University of Lucerne

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW)

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