How the RAE 2021 findings will help KTH’s development
In August, a large number of invited international experts made digital visits to KTH, in order to review and evaluate KTH research. Their recommendations have been compiled in a series of twelve reports that together provide important information for the future development of KTH’s research. This can be seen in prioritised activities in the operational plan for 2022, finalised very recently by KTH’s President Sigbritt Karlsson.
The KTH Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) has involved a large number of researchers at the university during 2021. Last spring, KTH’s departments compiled nine subject-based self-evaluations. In addition, three cross-panels reviewed how KTH works with infrastructure, impact and sustainability. Based on the self-evaluations, complementary data and personal meetings, the 90 international experts have summarised their observations and recommendations in twelve reports.
Hi there, Annika Stensson Trigell, Professor and Vice President for Research. How is KTH going to act on the expert opinions?
“The reports provide us with valuable insights into how we can further develop KTH’s research, in both the short and the long-term. The results are of great value for quality assurance work at KTH and our future competitiveness.”
Last week, the President decided on the KTH operational plan for 2022. Can you offer us an example of tasks that are related to the RAE results?
“One example is that each respective Head of School has been tasked, in dialogue with the Heads of Department, with identifying possible development areas and to produce an action plan for how the recommendations are to be acted upon. This assignment includes identifying measures for both department and school wide collaborations, that can contribute to enhancing the quality of KTH research.”
Why do KTH initiate research evaluations of this kind?
“It is important to develop strategies, evaluate them and analyse what can be improved and identify areas where KTH can further develop. At the same time, it is an opportunity to highlight what works well.”
What happens next?
“In parallel with acting upon the recommendations, we will also evaluate the RAE process itself as a whole. In so doing, we can incorporate the experiences from this year’s evaluation, and can recommend changes to the KTH quality assurance system in time for the next external review, so we will perform it even better next time round.”
Words: Louise Gustafsson
See where RAE 2021 is found in KTH's operational plan for 2022