The problem of publication pressure has been building for some time among the ranks of mainly young postgraduate researchers in Flanders’ universities. Critics complain that the Europe-wide Bologna agreements on higher education have introduced a system where researchers are evaluated mainly or even wholly on the basis of how many papers they publish in academic journals, with priority given to the most elite journals in each field and to publication in English.

“That single criterion has become hugely important and drives people to publish as much as possible,” explained Anton Froeyman, a researcher in the philosophy department of Ghent University and one of the group behind the petition. The result, he told Flanders Today, is that the quality of the research can be compromised, as academics keen to publish a lot allow their standards to slip.

“Secondly, the university’s role in education and social engagement is also forced into a lower priority,” said Froeyman.

Following recent cases of fraud involving researchers educated (though not at the time working) in Flanders, a group of researchers launched a petition calling on the government and the universities to rethink the evaluation criteria. Last week, Flemish education minister Pascal Smet and innovation minister Ingrid Lieten jointly promised to take the researchers’ concerns into account when considering the next round of financing for higher education.

Meanwhile, the rectors of the five Flemish universities also joined to say they were prepared to get around the table with academics’ representatives to discuss the issue.

“We’re very happy with the reaction the petition has had,” Froeyman said. “The whole idea was to get a fundamental debate going about the higher education system and the evaluation criteria used. We’re very happy with the openness shown by the rectors and the minister to start that discussion. That’s what we set out to do.”