The Rhine-Main Universities (RMU) have joined the National Chapter of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). The RMU has been a member of CoARA since 20222. CoARA is a global network of universities, non-university research institutions, research funding organizations and professional associations. It was founded with the aim of jointly initiating a culture change in research assessment and to develop and establish new principles to this end. To date, about 700 institutions from more than 50 countries have joined the network. 

In their respective countries, CoARA members are also organized in national chapters. The RMU is now part of the German National Chapter which has three functions:

• it serves as a forum for the discussion of research assessment matters specific to Germany, 
• it supports its members in practical ways in their reform efforts, and
• it offers non-members the opportunity to participate in the discussions taking part within CoARA and its working groups.

The RMU has also published its CoARA Action Plan for the period from 2024–2027. With support for early career researchers (ECR) being one of the RMU’s key priorities, the RMU Action Plan is focused on the development of CoARA-based principles within the RMU Initiative Funding for Research. The RMU Initiative Funding for Research promotes joint research projects and consists of three funding lines. It is particularly suited for developing and testing new criteria for the assessment of applications for funding. Further information on the measures which the RMU will take until 2027 to implement the CoARA goals is available at: Rhine-Main Universities alliance - CoARA Action Plan 2024 - 2027 (zenodo.org).

The RMU is also a member of the CoARA Working Group „Reforming Academic Career Assessment“. In a total of thirteen CoARA Working Groups, members discuss various aspects of research assessment and develop proposals for future practices.