Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche
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| Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche | |
|---|---|
| Name | Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche |
| Native name | Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche |
| Formed | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Paris |
| Jurisdiction | France |
| Chief1 name | (chair) |
Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche is an independent advisory body created to assess research performance and evaluation practices in France. It interacts with national institutions, higher education establishments, and international organizations to promote evaluation standards and integrity. The body publishes reports, issues recommendations, and engages with professional associations and funding agencies to influence policy and practice.
History
The body was established amid reform debates involving François Hollande, Manuel Valls, Nicolas Sarkozy, Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France), and university stakeholders after critiques from actors such as Conférence des présidents d'université, Observatoire des sciences et des techniques, and Académie des sciences. Its founding drew on precedents including the Comité national de la recherche scientifique, the Agence d'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur, and lessons from international bodies like European Research Council, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, National Science Foundation, and Research Excellence Framework. Early chairs were public figures from institutions such as CNRS, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, and Collège de France, while commissioners included representatives from ANR (French National Research Agency), Horizon 2020, Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, and disciplinary academies like Académie des sciences morales et politiques.
Mandate and Legal Framework
Statutory authority stems from legislation debated in the Assemblée nationale and the Sénat and shaped by decrees issued by the Prime Minister of France and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France). The mandate cites comparative models such as the Higher Education Funding Council for England, German Research Foundation, Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes, and international standards promoted by UNESCO and European University Association. Tasks codified include evaluation of evaluation procedures, recommendations for metrics aligned with San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment, and advice on research ethics consistent with principles advocated by World Health Organization and Committee on Publication Ethics.
Organizational Structure
The council's composition mirrors plural representation drawn from academia, research organizations, and professional bodies including Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, École normale supérieure, Université PSL, Université de Lyon, Sciences Po, and representatives from trade unions such as Confédération française démocratique du travail and employer federations like Medef. Leadership includes a chair, vice-chair, and working groups aligned to disciplinary sections referencing entities such as Institut Pasteur, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, CNES, and CEA. Advisory panels incorporate members from international partners including European Research Council, Max Planck Society, Royal Society, National Institutes of Health, and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, while secretariat functions coordinate with agencies like Agence Française de Développement and administrative courts such as Conseil d'État for procedural oversight.
Evaluation Activities and Methodologies
The council conducts peer-review assessments, meta-evaluations, and methodological audits engaging experts from École Polytechnique, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Montpellier, and professional societies like Société Française de Physique and Société Française de Biologie. Methodologies reference bibliometric systems including Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and altmetric frameworks promoted by ORCID, CrossRef, and DataCite. It issues guidance on indicators such as citation analysis, h-index comparisons associated with databases like Clarivate Analytics, and qualitative appraisal modeled after practices in Research Excellence Framework, Leiden Ranking, and Times Higher Education. Evaluations address research units, doctoral schools, and infrastructure projects interacting with funders like Agence nationale de la recherche and European programs including Horizon Europe.
Key Reports and Impact
Major publications include thematic reports on evaluation practices, integrity, and career structures that influenced reforms in institutions such as Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Université de Lille, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, and national agencies like CNES and ANR. Reports have cited case studies involving laboratories affiliated with INSERM, CNRS, and collaborations with international initiatives like European Research Area and OpenAIRE. Recommendations referencing the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and the Leiden Manifesto contributed to policy shifts adopted by university consortia, funding calls, and accreditation processes overseen by Commission des titres d'ingénieur.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critiques have come from stakeholders including research unions, individual academics, and media outlets such as Le Monde, Libération, and Le Figaro, challenging the council's independence, composition, and reliance on bibliometrics associated with Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier. Controversies have involved debates over transparency raised by bodies like Syndicat national des enseignants chercheurs, legal questions addressed before Conseil d'État, and tensions with reform agendas advocated by ministers such as Frédérique Vidal and Sylvie Retailleau. Opponents cite comparative disputes similar to controversies around the Research Excellence Framework and national assessment exercises in Italy and Spain, arguing for alternative models promoted by organizations like Public Library of Science and ScienceOpen.