The background is a consultation document from the Study Group for departmental structure at the future Faculty of Social and Education. At a consultative meeting on Thursday afternoon participants will among other things give their opinion about how many institutes faculty should have. Two models are outlined: Model 1 with eight departments and Model 2 with five departments. The latter model implies that the three departments in that case will be merged into one.
Collecting signatures
The resistance among staff is great. Ei signature list at the Department of Sociology and Political Science, ISS, have collected signatures from 66 of around 75 employees. Research fellows from sociology and geography have pulled off a similar campaign online, “No to the merging of departments our». In writing, over 170 people signed this. In the point view arguments against the merger, it is stated: “the merger is only initiated from above, without the participation and democracy”
Professor Ole Magnus Theisen is the initiator of the signature list by ISS.
– The is a unanimous skepticism about how the process of merging has taken place and many are also disagreed model 2. as a rule, the media usual people and leaders who do not have to in such debates. I took this initiative to bring out other voices, and to show how great the resistance is, he says to Universitetsavisa.
Discusses the benefits of fewer institutions
In the consultation paper is not taken decide which model study group, which is led by the Dean Marit Reitan, prefer. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the two models in the light of the situation of the four discipline subjects: Demand for professional study programs increases, and so does the pressure to obtain external financing and the establishment of larger research groups to gain acceptance in the competition. Meanwhile, it is stated in the note that some of these disciplines have relatively small academic community.
In the note reads:
“Although departmental structure or size in itself is not the most crucially, there is a question about a joint institute will give the four discipline subjects a better strategic capability and position. This must also be discussed in relation to other considerations such as professional identity and leadership, involvement and participation “
– Do not downgrade discipline subjects
Ole Magnus Theisen do not understand why it is urgent that way and believe this structure the discussion should wait until the new Faculty Board is acting in 2017. He agrees that it makes sense to integrate parallel institutes of the former colleges, but stresses that neither sociology, political science, geography or anthropology is affected by this particular problem.
Theisen believes there are many good reasons to preserve the current three departments. He doubts on how large the academic synergy effect will be if the employees are forced upon an organizational change and a professional collaboration. Disciplines have also various of science, which can make collaboration less fruitful. He is also concerned that students and researchers will perceive a merger as a marginalization of discipline subjects, and cause them rather prefer universities that maintain discipline subjects at the department.
– We must make sure we do not end up in another division by merging them. I’m not so sure that communities are so small either. At ISS, we are between 70 and 80 employees, and the discussion should rather be about what actually is the best size for an institute to get good education and a good professional production.
Wish the dean toner flag
Ole Magnus Theisen believes the whole process has been little confidence.
– Dean Marit Reitan creates unnecessary noise by handling the matter in this way. All this noise should not lead NTNU be interested in. She should also much clearer have toned flag. We know she has lobbyert for merging departments. Then she should clearly advocated his views, he said.
– But now there is a hearing on time. If she said what she thought, she’d probably gotten criticism that she had already decided and that the consultation process is just a game for the gallery?
– Unfortunately so that the foregoing processes with merger and faculty changes have been so bad that it has destroyed much of confidence in management. Since she has lobbyert for one sight earlier, there had been a lot better to deal with the real arguments and get a substantive discussion about these, he said.
– I have received a mandate
Dean Marit Reitan, who heads the study group at the faculty, stresses that she has received an explicit mandate from the Rector to appoint and lead a group to study various options. In the group sits there including deans of the three faculties that eventually be merged into the new Faculty of Social and Education. This group is asked to say something about the strengths and weaknesses of the different models.
– As dean, believes that a merger of the departments is the way to go?
– There is nothing I can say something about now. I’ve got this assignment from the principal to lead the group to study strengths and weaknesses. What group’s recommendation will ultimately depend on the sum of all consultation responses, she said.
– What do you say to resistance among employees, who organize petitions to protest against the merger?
– I perceive that this is a commitment to safeguard the social science subject disciplines. These are subjects who experience a fear of being marginalized in the merged NTNU, and the fears must be taken seriously. And so we need to discuss what is the best way forward to safeguard communities. Then the discussion on departmental structure part of a larger discussion about economics and strategic decisions at all levels at NTNU, says Marit Reitan.
The Board makes decisions in August
Utredningsgrupppa should go through all input and prepare a final proposal for one or more alternative models. These should be brought against the principal by 13 May. Rector adds then submit its recommendation to the Board of NTNU on 16 June. A final decision on the organization of the departments made at the board meeting on August 25.
On Thursday afternoon held consultative meeting on Dragvoll. UA will be present and to follow the discussion in the General Assembly.
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