Public Statement on Responsible Research Assessment (RRA) and Endorsement of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
Sulaimani Polytechnic University (SPU) affirms its commitment to advancing high-quality, ethical, and socially impactful research. As part of this commitment, SPU endorses the principles of Responsible Research Assessment (RRA) and supports the goals of the San Francisco
Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). SPU recognizes that research quality and impact cannot be fully captured by journal-based
metrics such as Journal Impact Factor alone. We believe that research assessment should value the intrinsic merit of scholarly work and consider a broad range of contributions to knowledge, innovation, education, and society. These contributions include, but are not limited to,
publications, applied research outcomes, data sets, software, patents, policy engagement, community partnerships, and educational innovation. Through this endorsement, SPU commits to promoting fair, transparent, and responsible
approaches to evaluating research and researchers. In particular, the University will:
- Assess research based on its scientific rigor, originality, and real-world relevance rather than relying primarily on journal-level metrics.
- Encourage diverse forms of scholarly outputs and recognize interdisciplinary and applied research.
- Support open science practices, including the sharing of data, methods, and research outputs when appropriate.
- Promote equity, inclusivity, and integrity in research evaluation processes.
- Provide guidance and training for faculty, reviewers, and administrators on responsible research assessment practices.
SPU believes that responsible research assessment strengthens research culture, encourages innovation, and ensures that academic work contributes meaningfully to local, regional, and global challenges. By endorsing these principles, Sulaimani Polytechnic University joins a growing international community of universities and research organizations committed to improving how research quality and impact are evaluated.
The University will continue to review and refine its research policies and evaluation frameworks to align with these principles and to support researchers in producing impactful, ethical, and high-quality scholarship. Sulaimani Polytechnic University remains dedicated to fostering a research environment that values excellence, integrity, openness, and societal benefit.