External committee on Fryske Akademy: 'Impressive strengths.'
External committee on Fryske Akademy: 'Impressive strengths.'
‘The Fryske Akademy has demonstrated impressive strengths in various areas, including research quality, societal relevance and academic culture.’ These are words from the conclusion of the evaluation report of an independent international committee, commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and chaired by Prof P.C. Hengeveld of the University of Amsterdam, which assessed the scientific research of the Fryske Akademy, and thus also of the Mercator European Research Centre, in the reference period 2020-2023.
The report highlights the success in strengthening regional and international collaborations, the multidisciplinary approach of the Frisian Studies and the fact that the institution responds to societal needs by expanding research areas and digital initiatives. Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, director says: ‘We are very pleased that the committee recognises the excellence of our research but also of our research community. The report highlights the future potential and encourages us to continue developing and performing along the path we are on, which we are proud of.’
In its report, the visitation committee still gives as points of attention that there is room for improvement in areas such as (research) funding, diversity and the integration of the Mercator European Research Centre in the institution's activities.
About the evaluation
The KNAW maintains scientific supervision over the Fryske Akademy. As part of this supervision, once every six years a research evaluation of the institute is carried out by an external, independent review committee on behalf of the KNAW. This committee gives an expert opinion on the scientific achievements of the Fryske Akademy in recent years.
In the period March-June 2024, an international review committee assessed the Fryske Akademy's scientific research carried out in the reference period 2020-2023, with reflections on the period since 2018. This visit was due to take place in 2021, but had been moved up in time due to the reorganisation the Fryske Akademy went through in the period 2018-2020.
The assessment was carried out using the Strategic Evaluation Protocol 2021-2027 (SEP) for public organisations in the Netherlands. The assessment committee consisted of:
- Prof Dr P.C. Hengeveld (University of Amsterdam), chair;
- Prof. Dr M. van Koppen (Utrecht University & Meertens Institute);
- Dr S. Boodts (Radboud University Nijmegen);
- Prof. Dr R. Naismith (University of Cambridge);
- Dr M.T. Günther-van der Meij (NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences);
- M.T. de Vos MPhil (Radboud University Nijmegen & INT).
Documentation
In preparation for the visitation, a working group of the Fryske Akademy had written an extensive self-evaluation on the organisation and scientific work. This self-evaluation report, as well as the committee's report and the Fryske Akademy Supervisory Board's response to it, can be read below.
- Fryske Akademy Self-Evaluation Report 2020-2023
- Research Review Fryske Akademy 2020-2023
- Position Document Supervisory Board Fryske Akademy