Methods and Practices for Institutional Benchmarking based on Research Impact and Competitiveness: A Case Study of ShanghaiTech University

作     者：Jiang Chang Jianhua Liu 

作者机构：Library and information services ShanghaiTech University Shanghai 201210 China Beijing Wanfang Data Ltd. Beijing 100038 China 

出 版 物：《Journal of Data and Information Science》 (数据与情报科学学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2019年第4卷第3期

页      面：55-72页

核心收录：

学科分类：0303[法学-社会学] 1205[管理学-图书情报与档案管理] 1204[管理学-公共管理] 0302[法学-政治学] 05[文学] 1201[管理学-管理科学与工程(可授管理学、工学学位)] 0812[工学-计算机科学与技术（可授工学、理学学位）] 

主　　题：Differentiating evaluation Mission-driven assessment Evidence-based assessment Benchmarking Research performance 

摘      要：Purpose: To develop and test a mission-oriented and multi-dimensional benchmarking method for a small scale university aiming for internationally first-class basic research.Design/methodology/approach: An individualized evidence-based assessment scheme was employed to benchmark ShanghaiTech University against selected top research institutions,focusing on research impact and competitiveness at the institutional and disciplinary levels.Topic maps opposing ShanghaiTech and corresponding top institutions were produced for the main research disciplines of ShanghaiTech. This provides opportunities for further exploration of strengths and weakness. Findings: This study establishes a preliminary framework for assessing the mission of the university. It further provides assessment principles, assessment questions, and indicators.Analytical methods and data sources were tested and proved to be applicable and efficient.Research limitations: To better fit the selective research focuses of this university, its schema of research disciplines needs to be re-organized and benchmarking targets should include disciplinary top institutions and not necessarily those universities leading overall rankings.Current reliance on research articles and certain databases may neglect important research output types.Practical implications: This study provides a working framework and practical methods for mission-oriented, individual, and multi-dimensional benchmarking that ShanghaiTech decided to use for periodical assessments. It also offers a working reference for other institutions to adapt. Further needs are identified so that ShanghaiTech can tackle them for future benchmarking.Originality/value: This is an effort to develop a mission-oriented, individually designed,systematically structured, and multi-dimensional assessment methodology which differs from often used composite indices.