Some 70 employees participated in the general meeting of the academy regarding the proposals presented by the Reform Club in its report. The meeting gave the Board of Directors an understanding of which proposals staff would like implement first.
Elias Eriksson, professor of pharmacology, felt there was extensive unity among colleagues regarding several proposals and that those were also relatively easy to implement. As examples of proposals that it should be possible to implement quickly, he mentioned a new type of research education aimed at clinics and a new organization for Core Facilities.
“Among the major issues, it is my personal view that it is important to review collegiality, and how nominations committees and our councils are appointed,” said Elias Eriksson.
Other meeting participants named the reintroduction of subject representatives as an issue where there is considerable consensus and which it should therefore be possible to implement quickly, as well as the proposal to redirect salary funds from the institutes to the faculty when employees retire to enable additional strategic ventures.
Claes Dahlgren, professor of medical microbiology, felt that the Board of Directors should first implement an extensive analysis of the division into institutes before other matters are addressed.
“This is a major issue and a difficult one. But it is associated with many problems that several of the proposals seek to resolve. Start by examining what the institute reform has produced and what could be better,” suggested Claes Dahlgren.
Åsa Axelsson, associate professor at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences, emphasized the distribution of the faculty allocation as an important matter. In her view, the institutes’ weighty educational assignment makes it difficult for them to establish the research base needed to succeed better in the competition for external research funding.
“It is important that all academic personnel have the opportunity to be both researchers and teachers,” said Åsa Axelsson.
One question that engaged people at the meeting dealt with ALF funds and the difficulty that clinical staff have in finding time for research.
“Despite having both funding and projects, it can be difficult to free up personnel to participate,” said Katarina Stibrant Sunnerhagen, professor in rehabilitation medicine.
“The senior management of the academy says clearly that it is careful with the allocation of ALF funds and clinical research time. The problems are further down in the system,” said Dean Olle Larkö.
The difficulties involved in recruiting young medical students to research were also discussed at the meeting. Elias Eriksson referred to the recruitment process as “catastrophic” and suggested that it was time to realize the seriousness of the situation:
“It’s thin on the ground in both preclinical and clinical research. We need more resources and initiative at the faculty level,” he said, while Subdean Eric Hanse felt the situation had brightened:
“Thanks to the drive in basic medical science, the increase in the medical program, the new degree project, the research assistant program and the admittance of researchers to the medical program, we are now seeing considerably increased interest in research among our medical students than we did just five years ago.”
The joint academy meetings are a forum for collegial discussion focused on matters high on the agenda of the academy’s Board of Directors. All employees are welcome to participate. The meetings are scheduled over the lunch hour and participants are served a sandwich and a beverage.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 27 at 12:00 noon.
