The South African system of evaluating and rating individual researchers: its merits, shortcomings, impact and future

The Foundation for Research Development (FRD) in South Africa has for the last 15 years developed and applied a unique research evaluation and rating system in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and technology. A multi-dimensional, multi-phased evaluation process is followed to judge the quality and impact of research-based outputs. Individual researchers are ranked in terms of the FRD rating categories, and this is eventually one of the mechanisms used both to identify suitable candidates in whom to invest and to determine levels of investment. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.