In an international evaluation of research and doctoral training at the University of Helsinki, the Department of Computer Science has received excellent reviews.
Each specialization area of the department participated in the evaluation as its own 'Researcher Community'. This time, participation was possible in different categories, and each community picked a different category.
Algorithms and Machine Learning scored absolute top of the whole university. The community participated in the "international cutting edge" category and received highest possible marks in every single aspect. Only 8 other communities reached the same result.
Comments by the interational evaluation panel: "The community constitutes one of the world-leading centres in the area of algorithmic and computational data analysis". "The RC is excellently positioned, with an outstanding scientific record in which foundational and application-oriented research are both excellently represented."
Networks and Distributed Systems received the best scores in the category of rising stars.
Panel comments: "The RC is in an excellent stage of development and the overall focus is very strong. The subject area of the RC is highly relevant and well-positioned in the foundational and technical research for modern ICT systems." "The RC has an excellent record of industrial cooperation and actively contributes to leading standardization bodies like the IETF, ISO, the WWRF forum and the W3C consortium."
Software Systems participated in the "innovative opening" category, with emphasis on the newly opened Software Factory.
Panel comments: "The RC is still relatively small (consisting of one chair) but very active in pursuing its mission." "The Software Factory platform is a strong concept also at the international level." "The RC’s scientific work is well-qualified and seeks to follow the new paradigms in the field."
The Algorithms and Machine Learning community is the largest, with 95 researchers in total during the evaluation period. The Nodes community of Networks and Distributed Systems had 34 researchers, and the Software Systems community consisted of 15 researchers.
The evaluation covered scientific work during years 2005-2010. The main evaluation criteria were (1) Focus and quality of the RC’s research, (2) Practises and quality of doctoral training, (3) The societal impact of research and doctoral training, and (4) International and national (incl. intersectoral) research collaboration and researcher mobility.
All evaluation reports will be published in April 2012. Follow this url for updates: https://wiki.helsinki.fi/display/evaluation2011/Home
Editor: Hannu Toivonen