Portrait Self-Image

Core Tasks

Research

The University of Bern's aim of offering a full range of courses lays the foundations for fulfilling its vision of providing  inter-, cross- and multidisciplinary research to a high standard. On the basis of offering a full range of courses, the University of Bern is specifically developing and promoting inter- and/or transdisciplinary strategic centers and centers with specialized roles that fulfill the highest academic requirements.

The University of Bern assesses research performance on a regular basis and provides the units with key figures. Using the University's QAD guidelines as a basis, the faculties have developed their own specific guidelines and criteria for evaluating research. With regard to the evaluation of research, the external perspective regarding research complements internal analyses. Therefore, the University has stipulated the increased inclusion of external reviewers and expertise to assess the quality of research. For the purpose of promoting the external view, the evaluation pool has been created (application form). The findings are used by researchers to assess the respective situation and enhance the profile of the university and indicate opportunities for development.

The University of Bern considers the guarantee of good academic practice to be an elementary prerequisite for academic work and society's trust in research. Researchers must align with ethical-moral values, must comply with laws and regulations, must uphold their academic integrity and must handle the funds and goods entrusted to them in the correct manner.

By means of an Open Science policy, the University of Bern makes the insights and knowledge gained available to the academic community and all interested parties, increases the visibility of research in Bern and makes academic achievements transparent. Furthermore, the University of Bern promotes knowledge and technology transfer to and from economic partners.

Faculty QAD guidelines for research

Evaluation of centers

The objective of evaluating the strategic centers and centers with specialized roles is to determine their current situation and demonstrate the opportunities for development. As the results are used as an basis for new performance mandates, it is critical that the self-evaluation reports contain the most specific and precisely reasoned statements possible.

The following criteria may be important for evaluating the centers:

  • Evaluation of the center with regard to its orientation (profile) and structures, its position, its contribution to society and its opportunities for development
  • Evaluation of personnel resources (academic and non-academic personnel) with regard to the implementation of strategy and the fulfillment of planned teaching and research activities
  • Evaluation of the facilities and financial resources in relation to the fulfillment of tasks and results in teaching, research, and – if necessary – services
  • Evaluation of quality assurance and quality optimization with regard to the development of the above-mentioned areas and their activities
  • Evaluation of teaching profiles, teaching and learning activities and their results
  • Evaluation of the research profile, research activities and its results with regard to the resources available; evaluation of the promotion of early career researchers
  • Evaluation of the support and administrative tasks with regard to activities in the teaching and research sectors.

Detailed information on self-evaluation can be found in the Guidelines for the self-evaluation of Competence Centers (German version).