About

University Perfomance Indicators

University rankings are a way in which academic institutions around the world are classified against each other, in terms of their impact on society. this project proposes the study and development of a new generation of metrics and indicators for academic and institutional performance and their correspondent governance structures in the context of São Paulo State Public Universities. This inititative is developed under the Public Policies Research Program of the São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP

Objectives

This project offers the basis for an innovative public policy within the three state universities of São Paulo (USP, Unicamp and UNESP). Articulated by the Council of Rectors and with decisive support from Fapesp, the studies developed here point to pathways for the universities, already considered national leaders in higher education, scientific research and provision of services to the community to gain more visibility in international comparisons that promote academic excellence the world over.

Rethinking the university means defending its values, reinforcing its commitment to quality of teaching, research and extension and, simultaneously, renewing its ties with a society in rapid transformation. Movements that presuppose both a return to review and correct practices, and advancement towards more innovative positions – something that is today done reluctantly, in order to accentuate the prospective function of research metrics. It therefore deals with means of constructing the future based on objective dimensions and open access to information.

Objectives of the Fapesp Metricas Project

  • Make knowledge about the methodology and metrics related to international comparisons more accessible and public.
  • To list processes of monitoring and internalisation of indicators used in international comparisons of universities.
  • Identify the components of a public policy on performance indicators in public universities to facilitate international comparisons.
  • Outline the attributes and competencies of people within the universities responsible for the use and application of indicators.* Improve the governance of institutions, to improve Brazilian science on the national and international stages to benefit Brazilian society as a whole.