Performance Indicators for Assessing and Benchmarking Research Capacities in Universities

This paper seeks to present a review of the current practice in benchmarking and to outline the types of performance indicators that are used, particularly in relation to research within Universities. The paper commences in Part 1 with a general overview of benchmarking and performance indicators, particularly in relation to their definition, application and processes for their use. Next, Part 2 provides some detail about assessing and comparing the impact, sustainability, importance and potential of research and outlines the types of indicators that might be used to achieve this. Recommendations are then made in Part 3 as to the elements that need to be considered in designing a research evaluation process. Part 4 concludes with a few summary comments. This paper does not specify a particular procedure for benchmarking or prescribe specific indicators for use by the Asia-Pacific Universities. Rather a starting point from which this group can develop their own benchmarks and measures that are appropriate to their context are presented.