Research evaluation: The first departments are finished, here are some experiences from two of them

In October, the Department of Ecoscience and the Department of Environmental Science each had visits from their respective external evaluation panels as part of the comprehensive research evaluation that all departments at Aarhus University must undergo. After a final meeting with the Dean's office, the two departments have now concluded the mandatory part of the evaluation.

"Overall, what we have gained from the research evaluation and panel visit is that we have gone through a thorough preparation round, where each section has defined where they stand today and where they want to go over the next five years. This work has been the most important part of the entire process," says Carsten Suhr Jacobsen, head of the Department of Environmental Science. He continues:

"The research evaluation is not an exam. The research evaluation is something you do for your own sake, as it is primarily the department itself that benefits from the result."

At the Department of Ecoscience, head of department Mikkel Tamstorf has also been pleased with an additional opportunity to look inward:

"As a department, we are at a place where we have undergone many changes. We are working on our values and identity, and therefore the research evaluation has come at a very convenient time to look at who we are, where we are going, and how we best get there. It was also constructive to get the panel's input on where we should particularly focus in the future," says Mikkel Tamstorf.

The two external evaluation panels were presented with the research at the two departments and had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the researchers. The panels then submitted a report with observations and recommendations:

"The panel was generally impressed with our work and how far we get with our basic funding. Additionally, they highlighted our interdisciplinary approach and pointed out that we generally undersell ourselves," says Carsten Suhr Jacobsen.

Mikkel Tamstorf also noted the panel's emphasis on the importance of sharing the department's success stories:

"According to the panel, we can strengthen our external communication to attract employees and share all that we can do in research and research-based advice. Additionally, the panel recommended focusing even more on a holistic, interdisciplinary ecosystem approach, including using the large datasets we have to develop even more projects for the benefit of society around us," says Mikkel Tamstorf.

Both departments are now working on addressing the panel's recommendations and converting them into concrete action plans.

Advice from Mikkel Tamstorf and Carsten Suhr Jacobsen:

• Open the panel visit presentations to the entire department, as it is an opportunity to increase awareness of the various competencies and strengths across the department.
• Ensure alignment with panel members that they have a forward-looking rather than a backward-looking focus.
• Be aware that the department itself pays for the panel's visit.
• Start planning the programme well in advance to ensure broad involvement from the department and coordination within the different sections.

The four engineering departments have begun the self-evaluation, which is the first step in the research evaluation. In March, the last two departments, the Department of Agroecology and the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, will begin.

About the Panel: The external evaluation panel consists of international top researchers who are invited to conduct an external evaluation based on a visit and the departments' own self-evaluation reports.