Abstract
In the past decades, growing attention has been paid to the assessment of the quality of university research (Handerson et al., 1990; Genua & Martin 2003; Lange, 2006). Although Italy is traditionally behind other European countries in introducing assessment systems for academic activities, it is now distinguishing itself on the European scene as a country that is adopting large-scale research assessment practices. In 2004, the Committee for the Evaluation of Research (CIVR) launched the Three Year Assessment Exercise (VTR) to analyse research activities carried out in the three year period 2001–2003 which had its origins in the European peer review experience.