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¾«¶«Ó°Òµ's Quality Management System (QMS) includes two specific evaluation processes relating to research: ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ researchers are engaged on a daily basis in research, innovation and knowledge transfer activities, in collaboration with companies, institutions or representatives of the local community, as well as in cooperation with external and international partners.

• Evaluation of the research and services of the Departments and affiliated Schools
• Evaluation of research projects and results and services

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ regularly assesses the quality of its research through formalised procedures and tools using two SGQ processes (‘Evaluation of research and services of departments and affiliated schools’ and ‘Evaluation of research projects and results and services’), which actively involve all key internal and external stakeholders.

The two processes use qualitative and quantitative indicators to prepare periodic analysis or assessment reports and, following a recent review, now include a wider range of quality indicators than in the past, with a focus on sustainability and equal opportunities.

Like all other ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ quality processes, research processes are also subject to periodic evaluation by external evaluators.

The â€˜Evaluation of research and services of departments and affiliated schools’ process is one of the 16 processes of the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Quality Assurance System.

​​​​​​​The process has two main objectives:

1. The improvement of the quality of research and services with reference to the framework conditions, the results of previous evaluations, external peer review and taking into account the relevance and quality of research and service performance in terms of both scientific results and social impact (quality consistent with the national and international state of the art).
2. The measurability of results.

The evaluation of applied research and services for businesses and the local area at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ is based on the accreditation requirements for Swiss universities, as set out in the relevant law and regulations, and follows the guidelines of the Swiss Accreditation Council and the Swiss Accreditation Agency.

The process involves the compilation of a self-assessment report by the individual DIPs or SAs and a periodic visit (audit) to each Department or Affiliated School by external evaluators responsible for compiling an evaluation report, in order to promote comparison with a view to the continuous improvement of practice, results and the enhancement of research.

​​In the current year (2025), self-assessments are underway for the Department of Environment, Construction and Design and for the Conservatory.

The process ‘Evaluation of research projects and results and services (formerly P7 and P9)’ relates to the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of research projects and service performance, with reference to acquisition and execution capacity, results achieved, partner and client satisfaction, and the enhancement of research.
To this end, a system of performance indicators has been developed which includes, in addition to the classic parameters (e.g. patents, start-ups), specific elements of the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ context, such as performances or workshops resulting from research projects, etc.
The monitoring and evaluation system is fed by the collaboration of academic staff, administrative structures (e.g. secretariats) and cross-cutting services (e.g. finance, legal, IT). Data is obtained from the Project Database and internal ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ tools, as well as external databases (e.g. Innosuisse, FNS, EU).Each year, the Research, Development and Knowledge Transfer Department (DRSTC) collects and analyses the data, producing a report on the indicators that includes any recommendations for corrective action or improvements.The report is discussed by the Research Commission with the aim of assessing the achievement of the reference indicators and identifying possible improvement measures. Following this discussion:

• The final report is approved and sent to the heads of research in the departments and affiliated schools to support local analysis and the implementation of any improvement measures.
• The Director of the DRSTC presents a summary of the monitoring activities and measures taken to the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Management and the Quality Coordination Committee (CCQ).

​​​​​​​The DRSTC ensures continuous monitoring, updating of indicators and coordination of the entire evaluation process.