The theme of UAS Journal issue 4/2023 is the nature, quality, and impact of RDI activities at universities of applied sciences. The choice of theme stems from the EU Commission’s co-developed Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, which emphasizes the quality and effectiveness of RDI activities as an important part of the evaluation of the results of research, researchers, and research organisations. The agreement was completed in the summer of 2022, and several Finnish parties including universities of applied sciences have signed it.
According to the agreement, qualitative review, such as peer review and the use of qualitative indicators, is central to the evaluation of research. The misuse of quantitative indicators, especially the journal impact factor and the so-called H-index, as well as the international ranking indicators of research organisations should be avoided. Instead of these, organisations would do well to develop criteria, tools, and processes for assessing the quality and effectiveness of research. For universities of applied sciences, the reform of research evaluation is important. The shift of focus from quantitative to qualitative indicators can, at best, support the success opportunities of universities of applied sciences in international funding applications.
By the end of 2023, the organisations that have signed the agreement have committed to sharing experiences with each other and with their community in initiating the measures related to the agreement, and to describing their impact on the practices, criteria and tools used to assess the state of research conducted by researchers, research, and organisations.
This theme issue provides a great opportunity to share lessons learned in accordance with the spirit of the agreement on measures at universities of applied sciences and their cooperation networks. Together we can contribute to the identification and recognition of the nature, quality, and impact of RDI activities at universities of applied sciences regionally, nationally, and internationally. With the help of the theme issue, we can make the special quality of our RDI work visible and contribute to the development of practices, indicators, and tools for the evaluation of European research.
In particular, the theme issue seeks answers to the following questions:
- How can the nature of the RDI activities of universities of applied sciences be put into words
- What good practices have your universities of applied sciences developed or are developing for assessing the quality of RDI activities? Which indicators, tools and processes are suitable for assessing the quality and societal impact of research? Why?
- What issues have been initiated within your own organisation based on the Agreement for the Renewal of the Evaluation of European Research, Researchers and Research Organisations? How do they take into account the nature of RDI activities in universities of applied sciences?
- What new indicators, tools and processes should be developed to evaluate projects, researchers, and research organisations? Why?
Expert articles from both universities of applied sciences and outside are sought for the theme issue. In addition to articles, the texts offered may also include more informal reviews, speeches, interviews, and examples of cooperation between universities of applied sciences with companies, international partners, or other actors. Audio-visual content can also be offered.
The maximum length of an expert article is 10,000 characters, review 4,000 characters, and more informal texts about 3,000 characters (inc. spaces). More detailed author instructions can be found at https://uasjournal.fi/kirjata-lehti/writing instructions/. We encourage author teams that also involve the representation of the world of work life and/or students. You can write in Finnish, Swedish or English.
Schedule 4/2023
- By 31 August 2023, article suggestions or abstracts to theme editors (mona.roman(at)metropolia.fi). By 14 September 2023, feedback to authors: a notification of approval or rejection, as well as a responsible theme editor for the article in question.
- 15 October
- 29 October 2023 comments on the article and suggestions for corrections.
- 12 November 2023 the finalized version to the responsible theme editor.
- The theme issue will be published in the week starting 27 November 2023(week 48).
When sending abstracts and articles, the title of the email should be: UAS Journal article proposal and writing category (article/review/statement/interview). For co-authored articles by several authors, we ask only one person to be in contact with the theme editors. We give only one feedback for selected texts.
Theme editors:
- Mona Roman, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
- Tuire Ranta-Meyer, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
- Liisa Timonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences
