Tools that Support Stellenbosch University Research Management and Collaboration
Measuring, evaluating, managing and showcasing research within the institution has become an important function at most universities. Stellenbosch University in particular strives to ensure the highest quality and quantity in research output. The University endeavours to share research, promote research collaboration, showcase its expertise and allocate research resources wisely.
The University's commitment to research, development and innovation in developing human capital for a growing knowledge economy is evident in its academic output:
• 66% increase in the number of PhD graduates since 1999
• 12% of the total accredited research outputs in SA in 2009
• average annual growth of 6.2% in research outputs since 2006
• the highest weighted research output per permanent academic staff member in the country
Research at Stellenbosch, 2011
A variety of tools assist SU Senior Management, Faculty Management and Research Administrators with strategically managing research performance and showcasing its expertise. Designed to support the many stages of the research planning cycle, this suite of tools and services provides critical information about performance and expertise to help enable informed decision-making and drive successful outcomes.
SCIVAL TOOLS
SciVal Spotlight
SciVal Spotlight shows an institution’s research strengths, where University management needs to allocate research resources and where performance is located within the context of other national and international higher education institutions. SciVal Spotlight provides an integrated and interdisciplinary view of unique research strengths and vulnerabilities. Senior university management, faculty management and research administrators are authorised to us SciVal Spotlight. Each faculty has been allocated a login code for SciVal Spotlight. You may contact your Faculty Librarian to identify the contact person for SciVal Spotlight with your faculty.
Click for more information about SciVal Spotlight.
Spotlight video.
Click to Access: http://www.spotlight.scival.com/
An example from SciVal Spotlight, one of the research management tools offered by the Library, the graph below displays Stellenbosch University's publication output of 5,744 in 13 disciplines over the period 2006-2010.
SciVal Strata
Strata is a research performance visualisation tool that allows one to measure and benchmark performance on an individual and team level, across a spectrum of benchmarks and performance. Senior University Management, Faculty Management and Research Administrators are authorised to use SciVal Strata. Each faculty will be allocated a login code for SciVal Strata. You may contact your
Faculty Librarian to obtain access to the codes for Strata
.
Click for more information about Scival Strata.Click to Access: http://www.strata.scival.com/
In a world of e-research, there are more data sources available than ever before, which means researchers need highly efficient ways to manage vast amounts of information easily. Refworks is a powerful online research management, writing and collaboration tool designed to help researchers at all levels easily gather, organize, store and share all types of information and to instantly generate citations and bibliographies.
Click for more information about Refworks.
CITATION ANALYSIS DATABASES
Scopus
Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature with smart tools to track, analyse and visualize research. Quick, easy and comprehensive, Scopus provides superior support of the literature research process.
Web of Science
Web of Science databases allow you to conduct cited reference searching to track prior research and monitor current developments, see who is citing your work, measure the influence of colleagues' work, and follow the path of today's hottest ideas. Navigate forward, backward and through the journals and proceedings literature, searching all disciplines and time spans to discover information with impact.
For more information about these tools, or to request training, please contact your
Faculty Librarian or Lucia Schoombee at tel.: + 27 21 808 2125 E-mail: lcs1@sun.ac.za.