Research Quality Assurance Manual

A higher education institution's quality assurance work includes its quality assurance system as well as the work done towards quality assurance.

Quality assurance system

The quality assurance system is the framework within which we carry out our quality assurance work. The quality assurance system includes both the university’s documented conditions, in the form of its organisation, division of responsibilities, and internal policy documents, as well as the procedures and working methods used to work with both quality assurance and quality development. It also includes those activities through which the organisation identifies the objectives, processes, and resources required to achieve its desired outcomes.

Quality assurance work

Quality assurance work is the work carried out within the framework of the quality assurance system. This includes both quality assurance and quality development, i.e. the work done to ensure that research activities are of high quality, and the work done to develop research activities. Quality assurance work is carried out at all levels within the university and involves the university's staff as well as students and doctoral students. The work includes ongoing peer review as well as strategic work on research activities. Systematic quality work refers to the continuous improvement work carried out according to given processes and routines, which we have chosen to call activities, with the aim of ensuring and developing the quality of all research activities.

This compilation aims to clarify the different activities, the main approach, the person(s) responsible, the primary actors involved, and how the results of the activities are communicated and monitored.


The following are to be specified for each activity:

  • What is the purpose of the activity?
  • Who initiates the activity or, where appropriate, who is the decision-maker?
  • Who is responsible for carrying out the activity?
  • Who checks/follows up on results?
  • How are dialogue, activities, and feedback carried out?

1. Research plan

2. Strategy for research and doctoral education

3. Indicators

4. Local research evaluation

5. Recruitment

6. Professional development

7. Research infrastructure and professional support

8. Research Council

9. Research Ethics and good research practice

10. Vice-Chancellor’s Dialogues

Monitoring and evaluation of the research quality assurance system