ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 3 – arts
is thus about the double of the research volume in literature. According
to the report this is a result of the politics of the former Departments.
The allocation of resources to the fields of literature, film and area studies
should not perpetuate a similar politics, but rather be based on recognition
of the importance and relevance of these areas.
Within the international field research at the division is roughly of two
sorts, on one hand predominantly literary, on the other hand of a broader
kind that includes intellectual culture and political issues – this is the
case not only in the fields of Chinese and Central- and East-European
studies, but also in Spanish, whereas French and English studies concentrate
on literature and literary theory.
The revenue from Undergraduate education is about 20% down in 2007
from 2006. The government faculty resources are about 15% down, yet
most striking is the reduction of grants for research from kSEK 9076 to
kSEK3385, i.e. 40% in 2007 compared to 2006.
The panel has no information about the number of PhD exams in the
research area, the number provided of PhDs at SOL-centre as whole is of
no significance.
Since there are significant differences between the research activities of
the three sub sections, an overall assessment is not to the point. Below
each of the sections will be dealt with separately.
7.2 Research infrastructure
The restructuring that has brought research in foreign literatures together
with comparative literature, film, and area studies has initiated a fruitful
process of collaboration that has a great potential. The institutionalization
of a research board for these fields facilitates decisions and initiatives.
The distribution of research volume is uneven, though. Compared to
the resources for research in linguistics, the allocation of resources for
literature, film, foreign cultures and area studies is remarkably low.
Except for English studies the number of researchers in foreign literatures
and cultures is minimal or even nil (e.g. German, Italian).
The physical and technological surroundings are excellent and so are the
library facilities.
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