Dialogue characterised KIRA's first quality seminar

KI Research Assessment (KIRA) is a development-oriented process focusing on the factors that enable high-quality research to be conducted at KI, such as issues relating to leadership, organisation, infrastructure and the research environment. 

The KIRA Quality Seminar is intended to become a regular feature of KIRA. The review methodology was tested for the first time in 2025, and as part of this, an international panel of experts assessed the conditions for research at Campus Solna and Campus South. Next year, Campus North will undergo the same process. 

At the seminar, representatives from the departments reviewed shared their experiences of the process and discussed the panel’s recommendations with KI’s management.

Dialogue-based review provided new perspectives

The expert panel’s vice-chair, Thomas P. Sakmar, professor at Rockefeller University, described the panel’s remit as both challenging and unconventional. Rather than relying solely on academic research merits, the panel adopted a new approach by basing its evaluation on the departments’ self-assessments, site visits and dialogue.

This approach gave the panel a better understanding of KI’s specific circumstances. Seminar participants also expressed their appreciation for the method, not least because it facilitates dialogue within and between departments, as well as with KI’s management. Several participants also highlighted the value of being able to review their own objectives and processes and translate the conclusions into an action plan for continued development.

Focus on collaboration, career paths and dialogue with management

During the first part of the half-day seminar, the moderator, Martin Bergö, vice president, encouraged the heads of departments to share their future priorities. Most highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration and communication between departments and research groups within their own departments. Recruitment was also highlighted as an important area, particularly the need to strengthen KI’s career paths and make them more transparent – especially for younger researchers.

Several participants also emphasised the need for a stronger dialogue with KI’s management. This is not least because many of the issues that the departments need to work on further also need to be addressed jointly, for example where they concern resources, infrastructure, recruitment or common working practices.

The second part of the seminar focused on the expert panel’s more general recommendations to KI. These are grouped under ten themes in the expert panel’s report. President Annika Östman Wernerson invited seminar participants to prioritise these themes in a digital vote. The three themes that came out on top concerned the development of KI’s vision and strategy, clearer dialogue and communication between KI’s management and heads of departments, and the continued development of KI’s model for the allocation of research grants.

From recommendations to ongoing development work

The incoming Dean and Deputy Dean for Research, Petter Höglund and Kristina Johnell, outlined how they envisage the Committee for Research working to coordinate, monitor and support ongoing development work within the framework of KIRA.

The final word of the day went to Martin Bergö, who emphasised that KIRA is not a one-off event but a strategic process aimed at strengthening the long-term conditions for high-quality research at KI. The departments’ action plans, linked to their operational planning, will form an important basis for the ongoing work, both at departmental level and on issues that need to be addressed jointly within KI.