First Ex.phil. lecture this Autumn; responsibilities this Autumn semester

Today I have given the first lecture this semester in Ex.phil. at the University of Stavanger´s Department of psychology (SVEXPHIL-IP). The topic, besides course information, was epistemology. Some 60-70 students attended.

My work in Ex.phil. this Autumn is partly on my regular work plan (at Department of social studies) and partly overtime work. I am responsible for half the teaching, half the grading, and all assessment of a compulsory assignment, in addition to being course coordinator.

Annual performance appraisal and work planning

Today I have had my annual performance appraisal in relation to my employment as Professor of philosophy at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies. This included work planning for the academic year 2026-27.

2 meetings

Today I have taken part in two meetings.

2 meetings

Today I have taken part in two meetings - my weekly meeting with the office manager, and a training session for work planning (and use of the program WorkPlan).

4 meetings

Today I have had 4 meetings, all of them one-on-one. Some were work plan-related.

No PhD project on welfare and prosperity

I have now been notified by my Head of department that he has concluded there will not be any PhD project on welfare and prosperity, which I proposed. My work plan for the next academic year has been adjusted accordingly.

See also:

Outline of possible PhD project on welfare revised; long-term research plan sketched

Performance appraisal; PhD project on welfare highly uncertain

Work plan drafted, revised; research reported and planned

I have just revised my current work plan for the academic year 2017-18, drafted a work plan for 2018-19, and compiled a report for research activities for 2017-18 and plan for 2018-19, in preparation of performance appraisal with my Head of department next week.

Work plan adjusted; responsibility in MEM110

My work plan for University of Stavanger has been adjusted. I will start supervising Joakim Jiri Haaland as PhD student January 1st 2018 (not this autumn). However, next Spring I will lecture for 6 hours and have responsibility (again) for field visits in the course "Welfare state and welfare policy".

Vacation plans

I will be on vacation from Tuesday July 21st and until Monday August 3rd (two full weeks).

Work and family life - a few new work routines

As a commuter, I am working much of the time from my home office, and I have to structure my workday - also since I am a father-of-one and my son is in kindergarten (only) 3 days a week (plus, my wife commutes too). After a "discussion" today, I've decided to make a few changes:

• After travelling on work trips, I'll work only 1 hour or so (checking email etc.) in daytime (plus work in the evening) the first day I am back home again - presupposing that my son is home this day. He is usually very eager to spend time with me once I have been gone (and I with him).
• In my daily planning, I'll start making room for 1 hour of "email and incidental tasks" in the morning and a further hour for the same task in the evening, in total 2 hours. With this I hope to remedy an all-too-common occurrence: Namely that quite often my daily work plan bursts since new, unexpected tasks that should be dealt with straight away appear. This then leads to working overtime and/or not getting done everything I have planned to get done.
• Trying to get things done well ahead of deadlines.

In sum this should make me more flexible, more relaxed and a more present father and husband.

See also:

Remaining parental leave; plans for spending time with my son