Research Assessment Exercise 2023 : A Report

Abstract

In 2023, the University of Jyväskylä conducted a comprehensive assessment of its research activities over the period from 2018 to 2022, with the faculties acting as the units of assessment. Independent institutes were included as a part of a faculty according to their discipline. The subjects of the assessment were the research environment, doctoral training and the societal impact of research conducted at the University of Jyväskylä. The primary goal of the assessment was to facilitate the development of the key preconditions for high-quality, high-impact research and doctoral training. One way to achieve this goal is to use the outcome of the assessment for the planning and strategy work of the units as well as that of the University. The assessment consisted of a self-assessment as well as an external assessment by an 11-person international multidisciplinary panel. To support the assessment, the units of assessment and the assessment panel were provided with background material that consisted of statistics on funding, research personnel, mobility, doctoral training, and publishing. In addition to statistical data on the units, the panel received the units’ self-assessment reports and research development plans. Development plans describe the actions each unit is taking to develop the areas for improvement they have identified. In May 2023, the assessment panel visited the University, where it met members of the units of assessment, the rector and the vice rectors, interviewed the research personnel and leadership of each unit, and visited research facilities. After the visit, the panel authored a joint report on each unit of assessment, where it gave constructive feedback on the units’ research development plans and assessed the units without giving a numerical rating or ranking them. The units received recommendations and ideas on how to further strengthen the quality of their research environments and doctoral training, as well as the societal impact of their research. The units used the feedback to finalize their research development plans. In addition to the unit-level recommendations, the panel pointed out overall challenges the University should address and provided suggestions for overcoming them. It suggested, among other measures, that the University review its tenure track system, reconsider moving some key administrative services back to the faculties, strengthen post-award support, develop a research leave scheme, and continue the JYU Visiting Fellow Programme. The panel also identified challenges the University should address to develop its well-functioning doctoral training. These challenges included the structure of the Graduate School, the number of doctoral students, and the sense of isolation experienced by some doctoral students. The panel saw that the potential for societal impact of research conducted at JYU could be boosted through, for example, training, support, and encouragement. For detailed feedback and recommendations, see Section 4 of the panel report. The final report presents the principles, process, and results of the assessment. The report contains summaries of the research development plans but not the complete plans and the self-assessment reports, as these are intended for internal use only.