Between Tradition and the Future: On Metrics and Performance Indicators for the Faculty of Law at University of São Paulo

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore the possibilities of constructing performance indicators for the Faculty of Law (FL) at the University of São Paulo (USP), aiming to use them as instruments capable of institutional evaluation and as metrics capable of national and international comparisons, looking to strengthen their reputation. The construction of qualitative research indicators for law courses takes into account that objectives and results in graduate and postgraduate courses are diverse, and that there are different actors involved in these processes. Moreover, for intellectual production as well as articles and books, there are various extension activities expressed in sentences, decisions, judgments, and drafting of legislation—of huge social impact—which are not taken into account by performance analyses. Finally, it must be borne in mind that Faculties of Law were traditionally created to operate within national systems.