Evaluation and Rating Facts & Figures - 2007 - National Research ...

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S T R I V I N G F O R A F A I R A N D C R E D I B L E P R O C E S S
“The NRF rating system encourages quality amongst researchers at the University
of Pretoria as it focuses on quality and impact and not quantity. It also encourages
career planning as novice researchers are mentored and guided in their planning
for when they will become rated. Achieving an NRF rating furthermore contributes
to a sense of being part of the great global research network!”
Joyce Olivier, Acting Director: Research Support, University of Pretoria
Figure 10: A comparison of the percentage of valid ratings, across all rating categories, between
the social sciences and humanities and the natural sciences and engineering for 2006
70
60
58%
50
49%
40
30
20
10
0
2% 4% 17%
25%
5% 3% 1% 1%
12%
8%
9%
6%
A B C L P Y RU
Social sciences and humanities
Natural sciences and engineering
Appealing against an evaluation result
Applicants have the right to appeal against the outcome of their
ratings. The same committee that originally assigned the rating does
not hear such appeals. The appeals are referred to a committee at
a higher level of decision-making. Appeals against ratings assigned
by Assessment Panels are referred to the Executive Evaluation Committee
(EEC), while appeals against ratings assigned by the EEC are
referred to the Appeals Committee. The percentage of appeals
against a rating decision remained consistent at 4 – 7% of total
evaluations processed over the past four years, as shown in Table 20.
In more than 90% of cases, the Specialist
Committee and the Assessor reach consensus
on the recommended rating for an applicant.
In less than 10% of cases, consensus is not
reached and these are then referred to the
Executive Evaluation Committee for a
decision.
Table 20: Number of appeals against the outcome of evaluation and rating
Year 2002 2003 2004 2005
Number of applications for evaluation 649 410 324 368
Total number of appeals (EEC and Appeals Committee) 43 16 21 26
Percentage of total applications appealed 7% 4% 6% 7%