Development of indicators for the assessment of HEI´s collaboration with the surrounding society

Purpose and goal

The aim of this project was to test a model for evaluating collaboration/interaction with sets of mainly quantitative indicators, taking into account the different contexts and conditions of six universities as well as a variety of scientific fields. A set of general indicators have been identified and a model for their use as a tool to assist in internal operational evaluations of collaboration/interactions have been developed which was also the objective of this project.

Expected results and effects

In this project we have been able to identify 25 generally accepted indicators for monitoring collaboration based on the criterion that they are selected by at least 50% of teachers/researchers within each participating subject area and subsequently selected by at least 50% of all subject areas in the study. A combination of performance and process indicators are useful for continuous monitoring of collaboration/interactions for internal quality development and the indicators have the potential to demonstrate success factors in certain areas related to quality, but not all.

Planned approach and implementation

Researchers and teachers working in about eighty collaborative projects in eleven subject areas at the six participating universities have been invited to comment on a large number of indicators (92) with regard to their relevance and usefulness for follow-up and evaluation of collaboration from a quality development perspective. Data collection was carried out with the support of a semi-structured interview template through which qualitative aspects of collaboration could also be captured and linked to the indicators.