Expert evaluation gives high marks to research
Research at Uppsala University meets a high standard, with more than 90 areas of research warranting classification as “world-leading.” This is one finding of KoF11, the second major research evaluation undertaken by the University, which will formally be presented to the Vice-chancellor today at 10:00 a.m. The report will serve as a basis for strategic planning and University development during the coming years.
“I have reviewed the results and am pleased to see that the quality of research at the University is even higher now than at the time of the previous evaluation,” says Vice-chancellor Anders Hallberg. “The initiatives implemented at that time are beginning to bear fruit.”
KoF11 (“KoF” being an acronym for “Kvalitet och Förnyelse,” or “Quality and Renewal”) follows up the comprehensive evaluation of research at Uppsala University carried out by independent panels of international experts in 2007 at the behest of the University (the first higher education institution in the country to undertake such a study). This year, a total of 25 panels comprising almost 200 experts evaluated more than 500 research teams and programmes. Scientific/scholarly articles and ongoing research, among other things, were assessed from a quality standpoint. The panels also identified strengths, weaknesses and potential for improvement. An important element of the process involved personal meetings in the context of visits by the panels to the University this past spring. In preparation for these meetings, research teams each formulated priorities and visions for the future.
“The process, while entailing extra work for the departments, has been valuable in terms of driving quality improvement,” says Professor Joseph Nordgren, who served as project leader for both the current and the 2007 evaluations.
According to the current evaluation, nearly half of the research teams at the University are characterised by either a “world-leading level” or “internationally high standard,” the top two of five grades on the evaluation scale. Examples include research teams in international business, computational linguistics, practical philosophy, high-energy physics, microbiology, photochemistry and molecular science, biopharmacy, geriatrics and bacteriology. The evaluation also identified emerging areas of strength. One positive finding is that the University now enjoys even better success than before in publishing research in respected journals. In terms of impact, our researchers now rank 40 per cent higher than the world average, up from 25 per cent higher in 2007. This year’s evaluation also indicates that a number of the initiatives implemented in response to KoF07 have generated clear results.
“Media and communications research, for example, which received low marks in 2007, now scores very high, thanks to strategic recruitment and programme development,” says Joseph Nordgren.
Other areas received less positive grades. Typically, these are fields that would benefit from integration into a larger context. The panels articulated recommendations relating to the University’s development needs.
“These recommendations are extremely valuable to our continued improvement efforts,” says Joseph Nordgren. “We made it clear that we welcomed criticism and honest assessment. The word is that we need to increase researcher mobility and focus on slightly fewer areas to maintain competitiveness.”
With respect to interdisciplinary collaboration, the panels deem there to be significant potential at the University but emphasise that success in this connection must always be rooted in intradisciplinary excellence.
“It is a great advantage that we have a large, complete university,” says Joseph Nordgren. “Our breadth enhances our strength.”
The University’s activities plan for 2012 provides for a total of SEK 89 million to be allocated on the basis of the findings of KoF11. The greater part of this funding will be provided to the disciplinary domains.
In the course of the morning, the report will be made available for reading and downloading on the University website.
For additional information, please contact:
Project Leader Joseph Nordgren
Tel: +46-18-471 35 54
Mobile: +46-70-425 0266
E-mail: joseph.nordgren@physics.uu.se
Anneli Waara