29 Nov 2011
Unit:
Alterra
Professor Claudio Minca, Head of the Cultural Geography Chair Group of Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, has been appointed by the ANVUR, the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes, to the panel for the Evaluation of the Quality of Research 2004-2010: "The Agency aims revolutionizing the way in which research is evaluated, funded and organised in Italy," Minca says. "This can have great impact on the future of funding for Italian universities."
The ANVUR Agency has been established by the Ministry of Education and Research to assess the research performance of all Italian universities and research institutes. It is composed of 14 panels, each encompassing a research area and including national and international scholars, prominent in their respective fields. Claudio Minca has been appointed as a geographer to the panel that comprises History, Geography, Philosophy, Pedagogics, Psychology and Anthropology. This is a very prestigious appointment since the panel will contribute to defining both the criteria of evaluation for the entire group of disciplines comprised, as well as to the assessment of the scientific performance of all geographers working in Italian universities.
"This is the first time that such a comprehensive evaluation process is implemented in Italy," explains Minca. "It may change the way in which research is organised in all universities. It will also have an impact on how the future funding for universities will be distributed". The evaluation process will take place in 2012, and the panel will complete its work at the latest in January 2013.
Minca feels honoured by this appointment. "I see it as a recognition of my international experience and reputation in the field."
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