Research assessments

Utrecht University attaches great value to the quality assessment of its research. All research at Utrecht University is therefore periodically assessed by external teams of experts. As from 2003, the assessments have been carried out on the basis of the 2003-2009 Standard Evaluation Protocol for Public Research Organisations (SEP) (PDF). This SEP protocol was drawn up by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Dutch universities. Utrecht University, in conformity with this protocol, ensures that all its research institutes are assessed by external expert assessment committees once every six years. The assessment reports are made public: please see below for an overview.

Joint assessments

It is common practice for Utrecht research institutes to be assessed together with one or more national or international research institutes in the same field. The Executive Boards involved usually request QANU (Quality Assurance Netherlands Universities) to coordinate such joint assessments. The QANU reports of these joint research assessments can be found on the QANU website. It is not always possible to carry out a joint assessment, in which case the Utrecht research groups will be evaluated separately. These individual reports can be found on our website: please see below for an overview.

Effects of research assessments

Most (97%) of Utrecht University’s research receives assessments that range from good to excellent. In the event of negative assessments the University will act accordingly. Deans will then carry out additional administrative and strategic checks resulting in a set of conditions for both improvement and continuation or termination of the relevant research programmes. 

SEP research assessments since 2003

• Divisions of UMC Utrecht, March 2008.
• Law, Economics and Governance -  Tjalling C. Koopmans Institute of the Utrecht School of Economics (USE), May 2007.
• Psychology - Linschoten Institute, November 2006, carried out by QANU.
• Philosophy – ZENO Research Institute, October 2006, carried out by QANU.
• Biology – Biology Research Institute, June 2006.
• Veterinary Medicine - Institute of Veterinary Research (IVR), March 2006.
• Theology - Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies - INTEGON, March 2006.
• Arts - Utrecht Institute of Linguistics (UiL OTS), October 2005.
• Arts - Research institute for History and Culture, October 2005.
• Pharmaceutical Sciences - Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), October 2004, carried out by QANU.
• Physics & Astronomy - Research Institute of Physics and Astronomy, October 2003.