Recent Conference Presentations of Zacharias Maniadis and Team
January 24, 2025
Event date: 25 April 2025
Location: University of Cyprus, Nicosia
The ONISILOS MSCA COFUND programme, co-funded by the European Union under Horizon 2020, successfully held a high-impact training session titled “Gender and Research Assessment” on 25 April 2025 at the University of Cyprus (UCY).
The workshop was led by Professor Alexia Panayiotou and Dr. Kyriaki Kourra, both distinguished researchers at UCY, and brought together academics, early-career researchers, and research support professionals for a critical discussion on persistent gender bias in academic evaluation systems. The session was hosted at the UCY Library’s LRC012 “Filippos Tsimpoglou” Amphitheatre.
Participants explored how entrenched reliance on traditional journal metrics—such as impact factors, citation indexes, and audit-based evaluations like the REF and TEF—can systematically disadvantage women and underrepresented groups in academia. Despite ongoing efforts under initiatives such as DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) and the Leiden Manifesto, the speakers highlighted that current frameworks often fail to dismantle underlying structures of inequality.
A central focus of the session was the introduction of responsive metrics: a conceptual shift toward evaluation systems that prioritise inclusivity, equity, and real-world impact. Unlike traditional or even “responsible” metrics, responsive metrics seek to elevate marginalised voices, address intersectional disparities, and redefine what is recognised as excellence in academic research.
The session generated dynamic debate and collective reflection on how institutions and funding bodies might implement such metrics in practice. Attendees expressed strong interest in continuing the conversation through further training, policy engagement, and institutional reform.
The ONISILOS MSCA COFUND team extends its sincere thanks to all participants and contributors. The event represents a vital milestone in the programme’s broader commitment to fostering inclusive research cultures and promoting gender equality in research assessment frameworks.
