A meeting

Today I have attended the weekly faculty leadership group meeting at Faculty of social sciences. Among other issues, we discussed the faculty and university strategy.

Strategic work

The Faculty of social sciences has recently had a hearing process where the departments etc. have had their say on the faculty leadership´s draft of thematic areas of focus for the next nears. I have taken part in the faculty leadership´s revision of the draft, with contributions to some reworking/reframing of descriptions of four areas of focus, among other things. The revised draft is now out for a new brief hearing at the faculty.

Workshop on welfare and migration chaired; two more events

Yesterday, January 28th, I chaired the second workshop of the University of Stavanger´s Network for welfare research, which took place at 9 to 12.30 at Kjell Arholms hus, with the theme "Velferd og migration" (Welfare and migration). Some 60 people attended. The programme included a lecture by Thomas Hylland Eriksen (UIO), talks by Hildegunn Fandrem and Elisabeth Enoksen (both UIS) and group work organised around five non-governmental and governmental organizations.

I also attended the university´s open meeting on strategy, with rector Klaus Mohn, and had a meeting with a colleague.

Two-three meetings

Today I have attended the faculty´s leadership group meeting, which included discussing UIS strategy (based on some new signals from the UIS leadership) and a meeting with pro rector for research Merete Vadla Madland. During the latter I presented the level and development of research activity at the faculty, supplementing the Dean´s presentation about research at the faculty.

I also attended and chaired the third meeting of the "new" doctoral committee.

Two meetings

Today I attended a breakfast meeting on writing chronicles, featuring rector Klaus Mohn. I have also participated in a meeting with a colleague.

Breakfast and strategy meeting

Today the faculty administration has been gathered first for a New year breakfast at Ydalir Hotel and then a 3-hour work meeting on tasks related to carrying out the strategy for 2020.

Two meetings

Today I have attended the faculty leadership group meeting at Faculty of social sciences, where we mostly discussed action plans for 2020, including action plan for research (drafted by me). I have also chaired the second meeting of the new ph.d. committee in the ph.d. programme in social sciences.

Interviewed by NIFU in UIS strategy process

Today I was interviewed, along with a colleague, by NIFU in relation to their evaluation of the University of Stavanger´s current strategy (in preparation of our next strategy, for 2020-2030).

Climate petition signed

I have signed a petition titled "Universitetene må gå foran i klimakampen" ("The universities must lead in the climate battle") along with 30 other scholars. The petition has been published online by the university news site Khrono.

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

Talk and discussion on Ex.Phil. at UiS leadership strategy seminar

Yesterday I gave a brief invited talk on perspectives on Examen Philosophicum at a strategy seminar for the leadership of University of Stavanger (rector, all deans, and a few more people in key positions), at Clarion hotel in town. My fellow philosopher Tarjer Mandt Larsen also attended and took part in the ensuing discussion.

Meeting of UiS Work group on ethical trade attended

Today I attended a meeting of the University of Stavanger´s Work group for ethical trading. Among other things, we finished our draft proposal of the action plan for ethical trading for 2017-2020.

UiS to have employed rector

The board of the University of Stavanger has today decided that starting in 2019, the university´s rector will be employed, not elected. This weakens organizational democracy and academic autonomy. 4 out of 11 members of the board voted against the change.

Petition for continued organizational democracy at University of Stavanger

I have signed a petition that calls for continued organizational democracy at University of Stavanger. The board is to decide June 8th on a range of structural issues, including whether the university should have elected or employed rector, and whether or not there should be  faculty and department boards.

UiS considering organisational reforms; director wants employed rector

The University of Stavanger committee that has reviewed organisational reforms has today released their final report, with recommendations. The report is available via the UiS webpage. Meanwhile, the documents for the board meeting June 8th have been announced. The university director wants a change from elected rector to employed rector, among other things.

I am in favour of organizational democracy and an elected rector.

Work group on ethical trade - meeting on mandate, action plan attended

Today I have attended a meeting of the University of Stavanger Work group on ethical trade. Among other things we worked on a mandate for the Work group (to be approved), and on the action plan for 2017-2021 (to be approved by the board of University of Stavanger late this year).

Minister of research and education asked about abuse, neglect, control of research

Today I attended a talk my Norway´s minister of research and education, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, at University of Stavanger, and asked him a question about the government´s abuse (minister of immigration and integration Sylvi Listhaug), neglect (minister of finance Siv Jensen) and attempted control (minister of fisheries Per Sandberg) of research. Among other things, the minister responded that Sandberg felt misunderstood, and that it is more important that Jensen accepts the government´s climate policies than what she believes is actually happening with the climate. He also reiterated that research must be independent and free.

Unions, safety representative calling for prolongation of Head of department´s term

Today an email was sent to all faculty at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies, announcing that an attached letter had been sent to the Dean of Faculty of social sciences, Einar Marnburg, calling for prolongation of Einar Engebretsen´s term as functioning Head of department, until organizational changes have been carried out (see previous post). This would imply that a new Head of Department would not be appointed with effect from August 1st 2016, but only at some later point. The letter was sent on behalf of two unions and the department´s safety representative.

I am one of two applicants deemed qualified and currently being considered as Head of department of social studies (se previous posts).

Open meeting on organizational development attended

Today I attended an open meeting at University of Stavanger on ongoing considerations of "organizational development"/organizational changes. A couple of hundred people were present.

cut-e tests conducted

Today I have gone through four cut-e tests online in relation to my application for the position as Head of department at University of Stavanger´s Department of social studies.