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

Panel 4 – Languages / Philosophy
PANEL 4 – LANGUAGES / PHILOSOPHY
CONTENTS
1. Centre for Languages and Literature (SOL) – Languages..............................130
2. Department of Philosophy..........................................................................137
1. Centre for Languages and Literature (SOL)
– Languages
1.1 Overall assessment
Considering all four subcriteria of research quality (quality, productivity,
relevance and vitality), our overall rating is good (not far from very good).
1.2 Research infrastructure
The number of academic staff in March 2007 was 65 of which 18 are professors
and 30 senior lecturers. Linguistics (including phonetics) with a personnel
of 13 and Swedish with 16 are the two big subjects, all other languages
must be considered small. Surprisingly, English has a personnel of only 6
and no professor in the English language. That lack should be remedied.
The establishment of the Centre for Languages and Literature (SOL) in
2006 was an important, far-sighted, highly commendable step in consolidating
and profiling the existing resources: personnel, libraries, and
technical equipment alike. For such major reorganizations to take full
force, they require 5–10 years of accommodation as well as formation of
new cross-disciplinary networks and research profiles. This process is now
in its mid infancy and should be strongly supported.
The Humanities Laboratory is a valuable research resource that has already
facilitated innovative cross-disciplinary research, and will increasingly
continue to do so. It is a major generator of external funding. It should
be a primary aim of the relevant faculties to determine the organizational
status of the Humanities Laboratory and secure its funding on a permanent
basis.
Less impressive is the amount of funding (SEK 250.000 per annum)
made available by SOL for researchers to disseminate their findings
130