The University of Ottawa’s work in the last year to improve services to students and to achieve its
Vision 2010 goals have recently been evaluated in several media surveys.
Research in the spotlightThe University community is justifiably proud of the research undertaken by our gifted researchers, professors and students. According to Research Infosource Inc., the University of Ottawa stands fifth among Canada’s 50 research-intensive universities in 2006. When ranking universities by research intensity, Research Infosource considers the amount of research income per full-time faculty position. The University generated $237,900 per faculty position.
As for total research funding (from both public and non-government sources), the University of Ottawa also ranks in the country’s top ten in eighth place, a climb from tenth place last year. Attesting to the excellence of our researchers, the University generated $238.4 million in sponsored research income, representing an increase of 25.2
per cent over last year.
In its
Vision 2010 strategic planning exercise, the University set out to increase its research activity with the ultimate aim of joining the ranks of Canada’s five best universities. “Achieving that objective is essential in securing the University’s reputation as a national leader, and it’s also how we can fulfill our mission as a creator of knowledge and our role as a socially responsible institution,” says President Gilles Patry.
“The University has now reached a critical milestone in its growth as a research-intensive institution. This will help us in the highly competitive search for academic talent to continue attracting international leaders to our faculty and providing outstanding training for our students,” adds Mona Nemer, the University’s vice-president of research.
Globe and Mail and Maclean’s surveysThe
Globe and Mail’s 2006 University Report Card, released on October 31, highlighted many of the improvements the University has made in teaching, faculty feedback, student residences, and technology on campus. The student survey also reminded us the work we have yet to do in some areas, such as food services, work that we are currently doing under the
Vision 2010 strategy.
Finally, the
Maclean’s University survey, released on November 2, placed the University of Ottawa in 11th spot in the Medical-Doctoral category, up one from last year’s ranking. The
Maclean’s rankings, however, are difficult to take seriously, especially since almost half of the universities surveyed have refused to participate in the process and in many instances the data is a year old or not consistent.
The University of Ottawa welcomes all feedback from these media surveys and, in combination with the other feedback we generate from our students and the academic community, we continue to focus our attention on improving the quality of our unique university environment.
Related Link:Research Infosource Inc.
