ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 16 – systems science
Funding has emerged as being a central issue in the life of Lund faculty
people. We got no information regarding your grants and contracts,
however. Consequently we could not get a clear picture of the kind and
amount of fund each activity gets. We believe that much of this information
can be made available with no or little pain to the faculty people, by
properly populating a Web information system that we think the university
anyway lacks. Then, only the scientific report as it has been delivered
remains to be prepared specifically for this evaluation.
3. Overall assessment of Panel 16
3.1 Research Quality
On a global basis the quality of research in systems sciences as a whole
falls in the good to very good range. The department of Automatic
Control has been stable for a long period. In contrast, organizations and
reorganizations have been undertaken that result in the two new departments
of EIT and Computer Sciences. While these moves are approved
by the panel, it was felt that the reorganization of EIT needs to be pushed
to its end and create more synergies. Also, the Computer Science department
should probably consider better focusing.
3.2 Areas of Excellence
Traditionally, areas such as Control Science and Information Theory have
been operating at the highest international standards. Some such as Control
Science will clearly continue in spite of recent retirements, but there
are concerns that others may not be in the position to do so, depending
on key retirements.
Focused and homogeneous groups, with critical mass, were found to
be in a position of secure sustainable funding for their activities and
therefore have the ability to move into innovative and high risk areas.
Unfortunately, this desirable situation is limited to only a few groups in
the college.
Potential Development Areas
In spite of limited faculty the Computer Graphics group has achieved
international prominence and could excel with further planned expansion
of the group with a defined focus.
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