ELECTION OF NEW DEAN. This year’s second advisory election for a new dean at Sahlgrenska Academy is set to take place shortly. The process has been long and drawn out, and many staff are wondering why. Read on for Akademiliv’s summary of 2017, the election year at the faculty.
Our previous dean, Olle Larkö, left his post at the end of last year. In his final column, he pointed out, among other things, that we have many enthusiastic employees and that Sahlgrenska Academy is a creative organization that improves knowledge, staffed with strong minds.
An open process
The nominating committee started its work early, using a thorough and open process to consider and interview a number of internal and external candidates. The committee also enlisted the services of a professional recruitment consultant to help them. Prior to the election, and following consultation with the Vice-Chancellor, the nominating committee was unanimous in presenting its two final candidates: Christina Jern, a professor of neurology, vice dean of ALF issues and a senior physician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Agneta Holmäng, a professor of laboratory medicine and Head of the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology.
The election was held at the end of February, with the nominating committee’s informing then vice-chancellor Pam Fredman at the beginning of March that Christina Jern had received most votes. However, Christina Jern fell ill unexpectedly, and the vice-chancellor postponed making the appointment. An advisory election for the position of vice-dean was also held at the beginning of March. The nominating committee proposed that Eric Hanse, professor of neurophysiology, be reelected. In mid-March, the vice-chancellor was informed that he had received a majority of votes in the election. As the dean appointment couldn’t be made, Eric Hanse was appointed acting dean.
Consultation with rector
At the end of May, Christina Jern announced that she could not accept the role of dean. Eric Hanse therefore continued in his role as acting dean, supported by Anna Karlsson-Bengtsson, vice-dean for third-cycle studies (from October 18, acting vice-dean), and by Olle Larkö, as senior adviser.
In June, the Vice-Chancellor set Sahlgrenska Academy’s board the task of “starting the nominating process to appoint a new dean and vice-dean” once again, after which point the task was assigned to the nominating committee. On July 1, Eva Wiberg started in her role as the new Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gothenburg, and as such took over responsibility for decisions about the new dean and vice-dean of Sahlgrenska Academy.
In June, the nominating committee put forward the other candidate from the election in February, Agneta Holmäng, as the new dean, following a majority decision. Three of eight members raised objections against the decision. Ewa Wiberg met the nominating committee on August 23 and clearly expressed the necessity to hold a new advisory election. The Vice-Chancellor had also received letters about the election of dean from others within the faculty.
The nominating committee subsequently reached a majority decision in favor of holding a new advisory election and put forward a candidate for the position of dean: Agneta Holmäng. Three out if eight members raised objections against the decision.
On October 31, it was announced that the election would be held from November 16 to 29, with work to finalize the electoral register currently ongoing.
TEXT: ELIN LINDSTRÖM CLAESSEN
