Research Evaluations

The quality and impact of scientific research are of the utmost importance for universities in the Europe of Knowledge. The pursuit for research excellence and the implementation of innovative technologies and applications are top priorities for the European universities. Many policy measures are aimed at acquiring more funds from prestigious funding agencies and at maximising the potential economical and societal impact of scientific research.

Since 2007, the site visits are scheduled according to a rotating system, in which the quality of the research units belonging to two disciplines is assessed each year. This way, all disciplines at the University of Antwerp are evaluated within the minimally required 8-year period. The research is evaluated during site visits by international peer review panels, whose members are given every opportunity to enter into a dialogue with academic policymakers and the spokespersons of the research units during on-site interviews. This approach ensures maximal involvement of the panel members and guarantees that the panel can reach a balanced decision in a fully interactive environment and hence write a well-founded evaluation report.

By using a methodology based on the Dutch Standard Evaluation Protocol (2015-2021), the international peer review panels assesses:

1. the quality;
2. the productivity;
3. the societal engagement and impact;
4. the viability.

of the research carried out by the units belonging to the discipline under assessment.

Additionally, the panel formulates a number of suggestions to the faculty, research council or university board on how to better organize the research.