This essay discusses some aspects of the assessment of scientific production, arguments, complexity, and reasons for carrying it out. Are presented different units of analysis as universities, faculties, research groups, undergraduate or graduate courses, researchers, or professors. Several assessment dimensions, such as production volume, academic quality, social relevance, academic impact, and innovation are briefly discussed. Quantitative or scientometric approaches and qualitative approaches based on peer review are presented with their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, some assessment models are presented, combining or not these approaches.
Keywords:
assessment of academic production; scientometric indicators; qualitative peer review