What can you learn about a university from its academic research?

Sponsored by Universidad de Lima  

Universities around the world often highlight their research as one of their most distinguished assets. But what does this actually tell you about the university, and what does it mean for prospective students trying to decide which university is right for them?  

Read on to find out more…   

It helps to better understand issues and creates public awareness  

University research allows us to solve problems on a global scale and make evidence-based decisions. One institution that understands the importance of this is the University of Lima in Peru. Though it is relatively young in comparison to other institutions, it is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Peru and its research output is highly respected.  

Research conducted by the university focuses on topics that are characterised by their diversity and orientation towards the local community and wider society. As per the Current Research Information System of the University of Lima (CRIS Ulima), these works address 16 out of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The University of Lima has committed to developing research, knowledge and innovative projects that provide solutions to the country’s problems, and it’s these proposals that are managed and published by its Scientific Research Institute (IDIC). 

It allows for a broader educational experience 

A university’s academic research output can seem unconnected to your personal education experience, but it can actually have a significant impact on your experience as a student, without you even realising it.

University research builds knowledge and facilitates learning. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the IDIC at the University of Lima has continued to carry out research that is still delivering excellent results – for both students and academia.  

From 2015 to 2020, the output of scientific articles by academics at the university grew by more than 900 percent and, according to the National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi), the university ranked fifth in a list of Peruvian universities that had received the most patents.  

Access to world-leading research, facilities and equipment  

When it comes to narrowing down your university options, it’s unlikely that the final deciding factor will be the university’s research output. However, this access to world-leading research can be a fertile source of inspiration for your own learning.

The University of Lima is a prime example of this. There have been significant improvements in the university’s laboratories based on the external competitive research funds that professors have won as they have been able to budget accordingly to purchase equipment, supplies, and everything else that’s needed for research. Students who are completing their thesis’ can access these laboratories if they are part of a research project.

What’s more, the number of scientific articles developed by the University of Lima that are included in the world’s 10 most highly cited academic journals continues to increase. So far in 2021, the university is represented in 36 percent of the articles published, in comparison with just 12 percent across all of 2020.  

Unique collaboration opportunities with top-level academics and organisations  

For many universities, collaboration with foreign researchers and institutions offers important growth. 

The University of Lima has well-developed collaboration links between education, research, the business community and society on both a national and international level. In addition, the IDIC’s research groups continue to grow and have an increasing number of members that are part of top-level academic or scientific organisations from around the world, demonstrating the scale of its internationalisation. 

Lead image credit: Universidad de Lima