UK-led research network convenes 215 professionals at analytics summit

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Research Evaluation and Analytics Capacity Hub (REACH), a University of Kentucky initiative, hosted its third annual Research Analytics Summit April 19-21 in Newport, Rhode Island, bringing together more than 215 participants and 100 speakers to advance data-informed decision-making in higher education and research institutions nationwide.

The summit served as the flagship national meeting dedicated to strengthening research analytics capacity and promoting responsible research evaluation across the broader research ecosystem. According to UK News, summit sessions focused on building capacity and skills in research analytics, including emerging artificial intelligence technologies.

The three-day conference featured interactive workshops and concurrent sessions designed to help institutions of all sizes leverage data effectively. Dr. Baron Wolf, director of research analytics at UK and director of REACH, emphasized the growing importance of analytics in higher education operations. "Research analytics is becoming increasingly central to strategic planning, capacity building and the stewardship of research enterprise resources," Wolf said in a statement.

The summit also marked the announcement of a Joint Statement on Responsible Data Analytics, Evaluation and AI in the Research Enterprise, a collaborative guidance document led by REACH and supported by national and international professional associations including the National Council of University Research Administrators and the Society of Research Administrators International. The statement emphasizes responsible data governance, ethical oversight of analytics and AI tools, strategic investment in analytics personnel and infrastructure, and building capacity across institutions to prevent widening gaps in analytics maturity.

REACH, which received a four-year, $913,685 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation in 2025, serves as a global forum for advancing research analytics across diverse institutions. The initiative includes an annual summit, online training resources and a research analytics mentorship program designed to serve research administrators, librarians, researchers and data analysts worldwide.

Wolf noted that REACH functions as both a professional community and a capacity-building network. "The summit offers an international platform for sharing effective practices, emerging tools and real-world applications, including the use of artificial intelligence in our work," he said.