• Research focus areas
• Research organization
• Finland Distinguished Professor Programme
• Multidisciplinary Aalto
• Research assessment
  • Assessment results

Research assessment exercise 2009

The international research assessment exercise of Aalto University was carried out in 2009, on the brink of the launch of the new University. Its goal was to find out the scientific quality and societal impact of the research at the three merging universities and to identify research with world-class potential.

The research assessment exercise was performed by panels of international experts, who visited the assessed Aalto University units in June 2009. The panels consisted of 62 members from 20 countries.

The assessment was carried out in accordance with the ‘Terms of Reference for Research Assessment Panels’ approved by the Board of Aalto University Foundation. The Terms of Reference define the aims and criteria of the assessment and instruct the panel members on the assessment.

In the self-assessment phase the units expressed their views on the quality of research in their units. The self-assessment reports were part of the information pack distributed to the panels before the assessment proper. 

The panels compiled separate assessment reports of each unit assessed. The results of the assessment exercise were published on 4 September 2009.

In addition to the panel assessments, an external expert body carried out a bibliometric analysis of Aalto University in order to determine the quality of research at Aalto on the basis of its ISI-listed publications and number of citations.