It is enough to browse any social network to see the desperation of many researchers with the criteria of the evaluation agency ANECA to be accredited as a university professor at any of the stages. It is a nightmare that entails a lot of time – with dossiers of hundreds of pages – and expense. For this reason, the publication this Wednesday of a new model to apply for the position of full professor or professor – which adapts the procedure to the new Organic Law of the University System (LOSU) and the International Coalition for the Advancement of Research Evaluation ( COaRA) promoted by European rectors – has initially relieved applicants. In 2023 the agency received 6,730 accreditation applications (almost 50% more than in 2022).
This procedure will apply to applications submitted after April 1, 2024 and, if the file was started before, the candidate may withdraw and start with the new model. In a participatory process, the university community has sent the agency 2,127 amendments and 3,281 comments that have been taken into account to improve the draft. In addition, universities, professional associations and other associations contributed 50 documents. “Although we need to carry out a more detailed analysis, our initial impression is positive. “Good use has been made of the public consultation!”, the Federation of Young Precarious Women Researchers congratulated itself. This is how the procedure looks like:
- To speed up the formalization of applications, a new computer application will be launched.
- In order to simplify the process, which is now very cumbersome and long, a short standardized resume must be submitted. “This allows us to make a qualitative evaluation, not the weight,” says Eva Menéndez, professor in the Department of Library and Documentation at the Carlos III University.
- The applicant must only include the most significant scientific contributions, not all the production accumulated during the career. Subsequently, they may ask him for more information on questions related to merits and competencies to which he has to respond within 10 days. This resume must include: a service record, certificate of teaching merits, responsible declaration of veracity and certificate of stay in other centers.
- Scientists who have obtained the I3/R3 certificate (Program to Incentive the Incorporation and Intensification of Research Activity) are exempt from demonstrating the merits to be a holder, as they have already passed a very demanding process. The same occurs with those deserving of a Consolidator Grant, Advanced Grant – which includes up to two million euros to invest in the research project – or Synergy Grant, both extremely competitive international competitions, which are exempt from presenting their detailed merits to apply. professor.
- The procedure is based on trust, so that only the “minimum supporting documentation” will be requested. If the scientist is proven to be lying, they cannot be presented for the next 12 months, and will be reported to the relevant authorities. To be a full professor, you must explain and justify in your resume “a selection of relevant contributions in teaching and research and knowledge transfer and exchange” and, in the case of aspiring professors, also leadership tasks.
- Access to a repository must be provided in which the publications signed by the candidate can be read openly and documentation in English can be provided (no more translations). “Collaterally, this reform promotes open science, repositories – to give institutions back control of what they produce –, interdisciplinarity, which is the only possible science, but always penalized, etc.,” underlines Menéndez, who is former president of the Open Science Policy Platform of the European Commission. “In addition, various types of contributions and a greater diversity of careers and profiles are recognized.”
- The accreditation commissions – they go from 21 to 31 with the purpose of speeding up the process -, after examining the documentation, will issue a resolution. To avoid gender bias in evaluation – which punishes many researchers – the members of the group will receive training.
- Measures are taken to facilitate conciliation. Having children represents a hindrance to their careers for female scientists, as it stops their stays abroad. This causes them to postpone motherhood, give up their career or having children. Therefore, although you must prove nine months working abroad to be a full professor, the mobility requirement may be waived for those people who demonstrate a break in their career due to disability, illness, work-life balance or care of minors, family members or people. dependents.
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