The adjustment of departmental structure at the faculty is based not least on the latest workplace assessment and the discussions that followed in its wake. The departments will be introducing sections based on one or more degree programmes. Staff management will be the responsibility of the heads of section, who will be represented in the department management.

Sections based on degree programmes

The faculty management team hopes that the new sections and structure will meet the need for more accessible, clearer staff management. The sections will also help to strengthen the working environment by creating smaller units with a stronger sense of identity in closer proximity to the management.

But the adjustment has several goals:

“The structure reflects the fact that our degree programmes constitute one of our most important core services, as well as being our biggest source of income. Organising the departments into sections based on degree programmes should strengthen the academic foundation of the degree programmes in the organisation,” says Dean Mette Thunø.

The adjustments are also being made with a view to increasing the influence of the sections in large departments, which is why the heads of section will be joining the department management. The sections will also be representation areas, ensuring the link between them and the elected bodies.

In addition, the PhD organisation has been adjusted, with PhD students on the staff being given a clearer reference to a single staff manager: the PhD programme director. The foundation of the PhD programmes in the departments will also be strengthened to give better opportunities for the development of academic integration of the PhD students.

Finally, the new structure will help to create a strong basis to enable the departments to cope with the consequences of the study progress reform.

“Big departments with sections that work together and a joint board of studies are the foundation on which we will achieve institutional accreditation and not least a healthier financial situation for our degree programmes. Among other things, institutional accreditation requires clear management of our programmes and quality assurance in the form of more teaching hours for academic staff, for instance. In addition, the study progress reform will cost us a huge amount of money starting in 2015, unless our students start completing their degrees much faster – particularly Master’s degrees. More intensive cooperation between the new sections is the best possible way to assure quality and our many small degree programmes, and thereby the subject environments that lie behind them,” says Thunø.

Arguments for and against

The proposal has been through a wide-ranging process of comments and consultation, with arguments being presented both for and against. One of the biggest objections comes from the Department of Education, where staff responsibility for many employees is currently lodged with the research programme directors.

“During the consultation process we’ve heard good, objective arguments for leaving staff management under the remit of the research programme directors; but one of the major tasks facing us involves strengthening the quality of our degree programmes and ensuring clear staff management at the departments, which speaks in favour of collecting staff management under heads of section,” says the Dean.

Implementation in 2014

The changes will be larger in some departments than in others, so the sections will be established at different speeds. There is time to phase the adjustments in gradually (including identifying the sections and appointing the heads of section), if this is an advantage.

“Our aim is that all three departments should have completed the process during the next six months, ensuring that all the sections have been identified with members of staff and established as representation areas in good time before the election to boards of studies in November,” concludes the Dean.

Read more about the adjustment (pdf)