The RU quality assurance system for research covers quality control for all research activity within the University, i.e. all research carried out by the academic employees and by doctoral or master students. The main objective of the Quality Assurance System is to develop processes and procedures conducive to strengthening academic standing and research quality and to support implementation of the University's goal to develop powerful research which will strengthen the University's international reputation, infuse its teaching with new ideas, and provide both industry and the community with new knowledge. The system can be divided into two main key processes:
Annual individual assessment: An evaluation of research activities of each individual academic employee is conducted annually by five international specialists. The assessment was first conducted in 2007. The main objective of the assessment is to examine the quality of the research and research activity of all academic employees at RU during a 5 year period. The RU Research Council is responsible for and in charge of the assessment in collaboration with RU Research Services. The evaluation process is operationally coordinated by RU Research Services. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture allocates annually research funds to the University. These funds are allocated on the basis of Article 21 of Act No. 63/2006 on higher education institutions. Furthermore, the research funding is based on an agreement between the Ministry and the University. The outcome of the annual evaluation is used in distributing the annual governmental research funds between the Schools, i.e. the research activities 2007-2011 affects the distribution of the governmental research funds among the Schools in 2012. Furthermore, the outcome of the evaluation is used by the Deans in annual reviews with staff.
The Evaluation Panel uses the Annual Research Report from each academic employee to evaluate his/her research activity. All faculty members who conduct research and publish, using Reykjavik University as their affiliation, are obliged to deliver before 1st of October an Annual Research Report and be evaluated. Panel members are asked to base their evaluation and hence their rating primarily on the quantity/quality of research output in peer-reviewed outlets. The Evaluation Panel assigns the following rating to each member of academic staff of each School:
0) None or insignificant research activity.
1) Little but nontrivial research activity.
2) Contributes to the research community but little impact.
3) Considerable and active participant in the research community, with a clear contribution and impact.
4) Significant and active participant in the research community, with a substantial contribution and impact
Consistent with its research strategy the University has decided that each of its Schools should undergo research evaluations every five years, carried out by panels of international experts in the respective fields. The main objective of the evaluation is to examine the quality of the research and research activity of the Schools with regard to the international level of research in the field and to produce quality profiles, i.e. an Evaluation Report for all research activity made by the Schools. It is expected that the first assessment will be conducted in 2012. The RU Research Council is responsible and in charge of the assessment in collaboration with RU Research Services. The evaluation process is operationally coordinated by RU Research Services.
Documentation and issuing of key documents, instructions, and results: Following the individual assessment, an Evaluation Report is written and edited by the Panel members with the assistance of the Coordinator. The report is confidential and only for internal use. The result of the evaluation is made available to the Deans of the Schools, who then reveal individual ratings to individual researchers. A statistical summary is made available on the RU website. Following the School assessment, an Evaluation Report is written and edited by the Panel members with the assistance of the Coordinator. The Evaluation Report is confidential, although the main findings of the report will be published on the University's website. The evaluation will be used to develop each School's research profile and to refine their research strategies.
