By Kathrine Bjerg Bennike and Poul Meier Melchiorsen, the VBN Team at Aalborg University Library

In 2021, a new political agreement on the distribution of basic funds for research was concluded. With the agreement, the Bibliometric Research Indicator (BFI), which has functioned as a research indicator since 2009, was closed. The Academic Committee, the Expert Panels, and all tasks in relation to BFI closed December 3rd, 2021. The process of leveling the BFI lists ceased at the same time. This means that June 2021 was the last time the Ministry of Higher Education and Science (UFM) awarded BFI points.

Aalborg University’s board wants to continue to focus on publication and research production, just as there is a need to monitor the development of AAU's research. At the meeting of the Strategic Council for Research and Innovation (SRFI) on August 18th, 2022, a fast-working committee was established with the aim of preparing a new research indicator at AAU, which can be put into use as part of the budget principles from 2024.

The committee consists of representatives from the four faculties, each of whom has identified a candidate. In addition, there are two representatives from the Finance and Accounts Department, two representatives from the VBN team and one representative from AAU Innovation.

The committee held its first meeting September 14th and will prepare a suggestion for a new indicator during autumn 2022. The committee will develop the indicator based on the Board’s wishes that the indicator should be able to:

show research diversity and excellence
be internationally recognizable
cater to differences between disciplines
use responsible methods/metrics.
At the same time, there is a focus on making the process of creating a new indicator inclusive. To involve the organization, material will be sent out during autumn 2022 for consultation in the Academic Councils at AAU.

LIST OF MEMBERS:

• Jakob Stoustrup  (chairperson for the committee): TECH representative
• Winnie Jensen: SUND representative
• Torsten Nygaard Kristensen: ENGINEERING representative
• Birger Larsen: SSH representative
• Christian Müller: Finance and Accounts Department
• Tommy Nielsen: Finance and Accounts Department
• Jørgen Albretsen: AAU Innovation
• Poul Meier Melchiorsen: The VBN-team
• Kathrine Bjerg Bennike: The VBN-team 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Vice Dean Jakob Stoustrup.