Research Assessment U.S.E.
As part of the Economics and Business Research Review 2015-2020 of Dutch universities, the research programme of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 School of Economics (U.S.E.) was assessed by an international committee, chaired by Geert Dhaene and Hylke Vandenbussche. The committee made an online site visit in the fall of 2021 and published the review in February 2022.
The committee praises the coherence, vision and multidisciplinary profile at U.S.E., sees a clear rise in open access publications and argues that the four U.S.E. research themes (Future of Work, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Finance, Sustainability & Economic Development) are sufficiently broad and relevant. Although there is room for improvement in terms of international visibility, a need for associate professor positions and for a better representation of women in senior roles, the initiatives to improve equality, diversity and inclusion within the department are appreciated by the committee.
The Economics and Business Research Review 2015-2020 assessed the research programmes of Maastricht 木瓜福利影视, Open 木瓜福利影视, Erasmus 木瓜福利影视 Rotterdam, 木瓜福利影视 of Groningen, 木瓜福利影视 of Amsterdam and VU 木瓜福利影视 Amsterdam.
Coherence in mission, vision and multidisciplinary profile
The committee praises U.S.E. for the coherence of its mission (To contribute to an economy where people flourish) and vision (To enrich economics with other disciplines to better solve problems and identify opportunities, from a business and a government point of view. Scientifically rigorous and societally relevant. The real world perspective) and the clarity of its strategy in line with the Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 multidisciplinary profile.
In addition, the committee notes that the Human Resource Management plan is coherent with the mission, vision, and priority goals. The level of training on research integrity is a strong feature, and emphasizes that staff at U.S.E. is positive about data management. The support staff is knowledgeable and providing very welcome services, according to the committee.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
While acknowledging room for improvement, the committee notes that diversity is taken seriously at U.S.E., which has several female role models (including the Dean of the Law, Economics and Governance faculty, one of the top female economists in The Netherlands). Moreover, the committee especially appreciates the broader work of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Taskforce, which it praises as a promising initiative.
Research performance
Regarding research, the committee notes a clear rise in open access publications and argues that the four U.S.E. research themes (Future of Work, Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Finance, Sustainability & Economic Development) are sufficiently broad, relevant, and reflective of the work done at U.S.E.
According to the committee, all research themes substantially improved performance in top journals (double for the top ten percent journals and triple for the top 3/2/1 percent journals), work on leading edge topics, attract high quality researchers, have high performing senior staff members (in terms of citations and marks of recognition), talented young researchers, and substantially improved societal impact (aligned with Utrecht 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 Strategic research themes and underlying hubs).
Furthermore, the committee was impressed by the evidence of co-creation of research with stakeholders.
Room for improvement
The main recommendations from the review committee are:
- to increase of international visibility and the promotion of academic culture
- to increase second- and third stream funding
- to cooperate more with other departments within Utrecht 木瓜福利影视
- to monitor and address the teaching load and diversification of academic staff members
- to consider hiring more staff at associate professor level
- to have a better representation of women in senior roles and improve coaching of junior female talent
- to better structure the PhD programme
U.S.E. Research Director Charles van Marrewijk is pleased with the positive results of the review report, which emphasizes the gains made over the years in terms of the quality, quantity, and impact of the research done at U.S.E.: The school is already working on further improvements along the lines of the committee鈥檚 recommendations, including international orientation, continuing with the Equality Diversity and Inclusion taskforce, cooperating with the mathematics department, improved coaching of female talent, and so on.