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Five square concrete cores of stepped heights stand in a row on a concrete terrace above the sea under a clear sky, the tallest at the left. The taller cores carry a band of citrine glass near the top.

University research capacity assessment

See where your research function stands, and what to do first.

Try the assessment
What the film shows, in words
  1. How strong is your research function?
  2. Ten statements. Five dimensions. 14 of 40 storeys built.
  3. The level: 35 of 100. Foundational.
  4. One statement, from not at all to partly: 40. Developing.
  5. Supervision, from started to partly: the critical gap closes. 43.
  6. See the level. Then the first action.

The demo: the worked example, one input at a time

ExampleA self-assessment. No ranking is implied.

Step 1 of 5

Fourteen of forty storeys built. The level stands at 35.

Worked example: a growing university college (illustrative).

a storey built not yet built hatched base: a critical statement ringed: a critical statement at one storey or none the level: the overall score

Five pairs, read against one level. Three stand below it: Supervision, Research office and Outputs and publication.

First action in the gap registerCreate an institutional repository and record outputs.

The level
35/100
Foundational
Storeys built
14 of 40
Ten statements, four storeys each
Critical gaps
1
We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates.
Candidates per supervisor
5.8
64 candidates ÷ 11 supervisors

Self-assessment against a published rubric. No ranking or accreditation outcome is implied. The rubric is on this page.

Now your own institution, one statement at a time.

Assess your institution’s research function across supervision, ethics, the research office, outputs and integrity. You get a capacity profile, the supervision load in numbers and a gap register with the first action for each gap, without invented rankings.

  1. 25%1Supervisionbelow the level
  2. 63%2Research ethicsabove the level
  3. 25%3Research officebelow the level
  4. 25%4Outputs and publicationbelow the level
  5. 38%5Integrity and authorshipabove the level

35/100

Foundational

1 critical gap

The worked example’s answers

Self-reported. No benchmark, no ranking.

35/100 Foundational 1 critical gap

Supervision25%

Statement 1 of 10, Supervision: We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates. Critical statement.

Statement 1 of 10SupervisionCritical statement: listed first if it stands at one storey or none.

The example’s answer: Started. Choose a level to make it yours.

Statement 2 of 10, Supervision: New supervisors receive structured preparation.

Statement 2 of 10Supervision

The example’s answer: Started. Choose a level to make it yours.

Supervision load

5.8candidates per supervisor

64 ÷ 11 = 5.8. Set your own policy ceiling.

Research ethics63%

Statement 3 of 10, Research ethics: An ethics committee reviews research with human participants. Critical statement.

Statement 3 of 10Research ethicsCritical statement: listed first if it stands at one storey or none.

The example’s answer: Mostly. Choose a level to make it yours.

Statement 4 of 10, Research ethics: Ethics decisions are timely and recorded.

Statement 4 of 10Research ethics

The example’s answer: Partly. Choose a level to make it yours.

Research office25%

Statement 5 of 10, Research office: A research office supports funding bids and contracts.

Statement 5 of 10Research office

The example’s answer: Started. Choose a level to make it yours.

Statement 6 of 10, Research office: Research data are stored securely and managed.

Statement 6 of 10Research office

The example’s answer: Started. Choose a level to make it yours.

Outputs and publication25%

Statement 7 of 10, Outputs and publication: Staff publish in verified, reputable outlets.

Statement 7 of 10Outputs and publication

The example’s answer: Partly. Choose a level to make it yours.

Statement 8 of 10, Outputs and publication: Research outputs are recorded in a repository.

Statement 8 of 10Outputs and publication

The example’s answer: Not at all. Choose a level to make it yours.

Integrity and authorship38%

Statement 9 of 10, Integrity and authorship: We have clear research-integrity and authorship policies. Critical statement.

Statement 9 of 10Integrity and authorshipCritical statement: listed first if it stands at one storey or none.

The example’s answer: Partly. Choose a level to make it yours.

Statement 10 of 10, Integrity and authorship: Assistance to students is declared transparently.

Statement 10 of 10Integrity and authorship

The example’s answer: Started. Choose a level to make it yours.

The gap register

LiveThe worked example’s answers

Critical gaps first, then up to five first actions, lowest storeys first. Every tower above shows the rest.

35/100

Research capacity

Foundational: Build the basics: ethics, integrity policies and supervision capacity.

By dimension
  1. Supervision25%
  2. Research ethics63%
  3. Research office25%
  4. Outputs and publication25%
  5. Integrity and authorship38%

Critical gaps

  • Gap: We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates.Map candidates per supervisor by field; recruit or share external supervisors where overloaded.

Gap register: first actions

  1. 01
    Create an institutional repository and record outputs.Outputs and publication · scored 0 of 4Research outputs are recorded in a repository.
  2. 02
    Map candidates per supervisor by field; recruit or share external supervisors where overloaded.Supervision · scored 1 of 4We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates.
  3. 03
    Introduce a supervisor development programme.Supervision · scored 1 of 4New supervisors receive structured preparation.
  4. 04
    Set up or resource a research office with pre-award support.Research office · scored 1 of 4A research office supports funding bids and contracts.
  5. 05
    Adopt a research data management policy and storage.Research office · scored 1 of 4Research data are stored securely and managed.
5.8candidates per supervisorset your own policy ceiling

Self-assessment against a published rubric. No ranking or accreditation outcome is implied.

Your full reportResearch-capacity gap register and discussion packTry this form

Practice 11: Research supervision, academic coaching & publication supportFree · instant results on this pageTool owner: Prof. Wisdom Gagakuma and Michael GagakumaVersion 1.0 ·

Your full report

Research-capacity gap register and discussion pack, by email once delivery is connected.

Research-capacity gap register and discussion pack (PDF + spreadsheet)

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As the answers on this page stand

Capacity
35/100
Stage
Foundational
Candidates per supervisor
5.8

How it is scored, and its limits.

One level on one statement is one storey. The rubric the tool scores against is set out below, in full, so you can check it.

Method

  1. 01

    Ten statements score 0 to 4 across five dimensions; the overall score averages the dimensions.

  2. 02

    Critical gaps (supervision capacity, ethics review, integrity policies) are listed first.

  3. 03

    Candidates per supervisor = candidates ÷ active qualified supervisors.

What it cannot tell you

  • Self-assessment; validate with records and interviews.
  • No ranking improvement or accreditation outcome is implied.
  • Policy ceilings for supervision loads are set by your institution.

Quality ruleNo invented ranking improvements or accreditation claim.

The top of one unfinished concrete core against the sky and the sea: slim steel uprights marking the next storey, and a citrine glazed band just under the top.
One level on one statement is one storey.

The rubric

Ten statements, five dimensions, three stages.

Each statement is rated on five levels, from not at all to fully: no storey to four. A dimension’s score is its storeys out of eight, as a rounded percentage. The level is the average of the five.

StatementThe first action the tool lists for it

Supervision

01We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates.Critical statement

Map candidates per supervisor by field; recruit or share external supervisors where overloaded.

02New supervisors receive structured preparation.

Introduce a supervisor development programme.

Research ethics

03An ethics committee reviews research with human participants.Critical statement

Establish or strengthen the ethics review process.

04Ethics decisions are timely and recorded.

Set service standards and a register of decisions.

Research office

05A research office supports funding bids and contracts.

Set up or resource a research office with pre-award support.

06Research data are stored securely and managed.

Adopt a research data management policy and storage.

Outputs and publication

07Staff publish in verified, reputable outlets.

Publish guidance on choosing journals and avoiding predatory outlets.

08Research outputs are recorded in a repository.

Create an institutional repository and record outputs.

Integrity and authorship

09We have clear research-integrity and authorship policies.Critical statement

Adopt integrity and authorship policies, with training.

10Assistance to students is declared transparently.

Require declarations of assistance for assessed research.

The three stages of the level

  1. Foundationalbelow 40

    Build the basics: ethics, integrity policies and supervision capacity.

  2. Developing40 to 69

    Core systems exist; strengthen the research office and outputs.

  3. Established70 and above

    Systems work; focus on quality and external partnerships.

The line beside each stage is the rubric’s suggestion, not advice on your institution. The stages belong to the level only: a single dimension is not given a stage.

The three critical statements

  • We have enough qualified supervisors for our doctoral candidates.Statement 1 · Supervision
  • An ethics committee reviews research with human participants.Statement 3 · Research ethics
  • We have clear research-integrity and authorship policies.Statement 9 · Integrity and authorship

A critical statement at one storey or none is listed as a critical gap, before the gap register. The register then lists up to five statements below three storeys, lowest first. Answers are self-reported: the tool holds no benchmark and ranks no university.

Seen from the terrace at the foot of the cores, looking up: three concrete shafts of different heights, each with a citrine band, stepping away towards the sea.

When the gaps need more than a tool.

  • Prof. Wisdom GagakumaTool owner · consultations from USD 150Book the Professor
  • Michael GagakumaTool owner · consultations from USD 90Book Michael
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