Tenure track evaluation criteria

Aalto University is committed to responsible researcher assessment. Evaluation is based primarily on qualitative expert assessment. Quantitative indicators may be used, where appropriate, to support the evaluation, but they do not replace qualitative assessment of the quality, significance and impact of academic work.

The same overall evaluation dimensions apply throughout the tenure track, while expectations and the relative emphasis of the different dimensions vary according to career stage.

How are candidates evaluated?

Academic merits are evaluated holistically across three dimensions:

• Research and/or artistic and professional work
• Teaching
• Impact and service

The individual’s merits are considered as a whole. Individual criteria or quantitative indicators are not considered in isolation, and excellence is not determined by meeting a predefined set of quantitative metrics.

The evaluation is based on the application materials provided by the candidate and other evidence relevant to the appointment or advancement review. Both internal and external peer evaluation are used as part of the assessment.

The evaluation criteria used in appointments are described in more detail in the Aalto Tenure Track Policies and Procedures document.

Evaluation according to career stage

Assistant Professor – first term

Appointment to the first term as Assistant Professor is based primarily on the candidate’s academic potential.

The evaluation considers the candidate’s ability and potential to develop the academic merits required for advancement on the tenure track. Evidence of high-quality research and/or artistic and professional work, teaching experience and other academic merits is assessed in relation to the candidate’s career stage.

Assistant Professor – second term

Appointment to the second term as Assistant Professor is based on both demonstrated academic merits and future potential.

The evaluation considers the individual’s development during the first term and progress towards meeting the requirements for a tenured Associate Professor position. The individual is expected to demonstrate clear progress in research and/or artistic and professional work, teaching, and other academic activities relevant to the position.

Associate Professor

Appointment to a tenured Associate Professor position requires demonstrated academic merits in both research and/or artistic work and teaching.

The candidate is expected to demonstrate either:

1. international-level excellence in research and/or artistic work and high-quality teaching, or
2. excellence in teaching and international-level high-quality research and/or artistic work.

The assessment also considers the candidate’s merits in impact and service.

At this career stage, the candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research and/or artistic work, contribute to the development of their field, build and lead research or artistic activities, secure competitive funding where relevant to the field, supervise students and researchers, and contribute to high-quality teaching and its development.

Full Professor

Appointment to Full Professor requires sustained academic excellence and international recognition.

The candidate is expected to demonstrate sustained international-level excellence in at least one of the two core dimensions – research and/or artistic work or teaching – and at least high quality in the other.

Compared with the Associate Professor level, expectations increase particularly with regard to:

• international recognition and a leading position in the field
• sustained high-quality and impactful research and/or artistic work
• continued success in securing competitive funding, where relevant to the field
• development of the scientific or artistic field
• academic leadership and service
• development and mentoring of the next generation of researchers and teachers
• societal impact and other contributions beyond the university.

Evaluating artistic and practice-based merits at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

In addition to the university-level tenure track criteria described above, Aalto University School of Arts and Design has described the assessment of artistic and practical work merits in a separate document. These clarifications complement the university-level criteria and take into account the specific characteristics and assessment practicesof the fields represented by the School.

• School of ARTS tenure track criteria

Responsible researcher assessment

Aalto University is committed to responsible researcher assessment and follows relevant national and international principles and commitments, including the National Recommendation on Responsible Researcher Evaluation in Finland, the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment (ARRA) and the principles of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).

The assessment recognises the diversity of academic work and career paths. The quality, significance and impact of achievements are evaluated in relation to the relevant scientific or artistic field and the individual’s career stage. Quantitative indicators may be used, where appropriate, to support qualitative expert assessment, but they do not replace expert judgement.

Teaching competence assessment

The candidate’s teaching competence is assessed in academic recruitments as well as in advancement reviews. The assessments are carried out by the teaching competence assessment committee of each school. The committee follows these guidelines (including an assessment matrix) in their assessments.

Teaching competence assessment is a holistic process that evaluates the teaching ability, maturity, and potential as a teacher and teaching and learning developer. Please note that competence can be demonstrated in many ways. Therefore, numerous examples are presented in the matrix, so that we can better understand the many possible ways to demonstrate competence

Instructions for candidates

Unless otherwise stated in the call for applications, candidates must submit a full teaching portfolio as described in the guidelines below. 

Some assistant professor recruitments may use a teaching statement that is shorter than the standard teaching portfolio described above. If the job posting specifically requests a shorter teaching statement, please follow the instructions below.

Language requirements for tenure track

Candidates are required to be fluent in English in order to perform their duties. An international citizen or a non-native Finnish citizen may be appointed to a teaching or a research position without demonstrating proficiency in Finnish or Swedish.