ANECA is promoting initiatives focused on knowledge transfer and equality

On April 14, the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) held a workshop focused on analyzing and developing strategies for knowledge transfer and exchange based on equality and inclusion. The workshop featured María Bustelo, head of the Women and Science Unit (UMyC) at the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, as well as a group of experts in knowledge transfer, academic evaluation, and equality policies from both academic and public administration sectors.

The session took as its starting point a series of institutional best practices already implemented by ANECA in the area of equality, presented by the director, Pilar Paneque, and organized into five areas: (1) governing and evaluation bodies, with diversity, balanced representation, and the inclusion of individuals with training in gender issues; (2) evaluation and participation criteria, using objective standards, unbiased language, and channels for participation by those being evaluated; (3) training on unconscious bias, through specific training programs and support materials; (4) data collection and analysis, with data disaggregated by sex, publication of results, and promotion of studies on gender and evaluation; and (5) organizational culture, aimed at consolidating institutional policies on equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Next, Olga Salido presented the main findings of her report “The Map of Knowledge Transfer and Exchange in Spain: A Gender Perspective,” the result of a collaboration between ANECA and the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), which will be published shortly. This study was conducted as part of the IESA-CSIC and UCM research project on gender inequality at the intersection of science, economics, and society (GENKAT). The report’s findings identify the current moment as a strategic opportunity to redefine the concept of knowledge transfer and its recognition as a merit, addressing gender gaps as an expression of a structural pattern. Revising a system that is overly oriented toward quantifiable forms of knowledge transfer with economic returns would allow for progress toward a more balanced assessment, in which social relevance and equality reinforce one another and contribute to effective equality.

Along these lines, the document published by ANECA, “Knowledge Transfer and Exchange for the Creation of Social Value: Conceptual Foundations and Classification Categories” (Ramos-Vielba and Paneque, 2025), outlines a series of advances in the area of equality. First, the development process drew on previous studies, reports, and lessons learned, as well as on the participation of institutions, organizations, and groups within the ecosystem in discussion groups. This shared critical review made it possible to consolidate a concept of knowledge transfer grounded in the literature, taking into account its evolution, and inspired by a broad and inclusive vision—one not centered on a predominantly economic, technological, or business model, but rather on interactions with non-academic actors linked to scientific research that contribute to the creation of social value. In addition, the principles of open, inclusive, and responsible science were incorporated, and categories were proposed that encompass a diversity of disciplinary practices through a versatile approach that allows for the identification and evaluation of different contributions. This document will serve as a reference for the evaluation programs implemented by ANECA in this area.

The main objective of the meeting was to create a space for shared reflection in order to move from the assessment phase toward the implementation of new, specific measures. In this regard, the recommendations in the UCM report regarding the design of the transfer process were already reflected in ANECA’s conceptual review and categorization. Furthermore, regarding aspects that could guide future steps related to the evaluation procedure, indicators, communication and transparency, and the consolidation of a stable evaluation process, the report’s recommendations can continue to be promoted, using as a reference the measures that have been developed in other ANECA programs and/or on a cross-cutting basis.

Based on this framework, the session proceeded in working groups that addressed potential measures aimed at implementation. These sessions allowed for gathering suggestions, identifying barriers, and exploring avenues for improvement from a practical perspective. The session concluded with a sharing of a set of proposals.

This event is part of ANECA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen inclusion and equality in evaluation processes, as well as to consolidate an up-to-date and operational conceptual framework for the transfer and exchange of knowledge. The results of the meeting will help to further advance the effective incorporation of equality into the assessment of such activities.