Visit to the institution
An action based on respect for people
The evaluation procedure sets up an expert committee made up of at least six members, including a chairman. Any conflict of interests that might arise must be reported to the Agency by the mandated expert committee or the institution evaluated. The expert committee chairman is appointed by the Agency. A project manager, the AERES’ contact, assists the committee during the whole evaluation and ensures that the AERES’ methods and principles are adhered to.
The visit to the institution involves:
- a meeting with the director of the institution evaluated, who presents his or her institution’s strategy
- individual meetings: vice-presidents, research and training unit directors, department managers, etc.
The meetings generally end with a discussion in camera between the expert committee members.
Example of how a visit may be planned
Before the start of the visit:
- preparatory meeting between committee members, attended by a scientific delegate, a project manager and representatives of departments 2 and 3 so that they can compare their appraisals of the institution’s issues and prepare for the visit.
During the visit:
- presentation of the institution and its policy by the director and the management team to the committee
- discussion with members of the institution in a position of responsibility, in which the institution director does not participate. For higher education institutions, this consultation includes students. The expert committee may also interview anyone it considers to be relevant and ask the opinion of the supervising bodies present
- the committee holds discussions in camera
