The University of Eastern Finland carried out a Research Assessment Exercise on the years 2015–2018. The final report submitted an international evaluation panel describes the university’s research as being of high quality and having strong societal impact.
The panel evaluated the current state of the university’s research and charted its potential for the upcoming strategy period 2021–2030. The newly published report concludes that research in the strong areas of the University of Eastern Finland is of a high international standard and has strong societal impact.
A clear stronghold of the university recognised by the panel is the solid strategic framework wherein multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinary constitute a well-established mode of operation in most if not all research communities.
The panel encourages the university to further strengthen the focus its research, i.e. its unique expertise that aims at scientific breakthroughs in the university’s strong areas. The strategy of the University of Eastern Finland is built around global challenges to which the university seeks to find solutions through interdisciplinary research and multidisciplinary education in its four profile areas. The profile areas are Cultural encounters, mobilities and borders, Diversifying learning and interaction, Ageing, lifestyles and health, and Environmental change and sustainable use of natural resources.
Altogether 16 research communities participated in the evaluation, thus covering about 70% of all research activities within UEF.
“The evaluation involved approximately 1,300 researchers at the University of Eastern Finland. This evaluation process gives us valuable insight and tools for further developing our research,” Academic Rector Harri Siiskonen from the University of Eastern Finland says.
The research communities under evaluation represent different levels of maturity, and they often differ from one another in terms of their strategy, focus and leadership.
“Despite having different modes of operation, all research communities are keen to develop multidisciplinary collaboration in the future,” Siiskonen points out.
Read the report: International Evaluation of Research Activities at the University of Eastern Finland in 2015–2018
To learn more about the evaluation criteria and process, please see: https://www.uef.fi/fi/uefrae2019
For further information, please contact:
Academic Rector Harri Siiskonen, University of Eastern Finland, harri.siiskonen@uef.fi