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

Part 2 – Conclusions of the review
will become increasingly effective in this role. It is a major generator
of external funding, and it should be a primary aim of the relevant
faculties to determine the organizational status of the Humanities
Laboratory and to secure its funding on a permanent basis. The
absence of professors of English language is a serious drawback in
the modern linguistic environment and should be corrected.
E2. SOCIAL SCIENCES
(Panels: 1 Law, 5 Behavioural Sciences, 6 Social Sciences, 7 Economics &
Management)
Introduction
25. Units concerned with the social and behavioural sciences include
psychology, sociology, gender studies, education, media and communication,
law, and economics and management (LUSEM). They
relate to areas of important societal need and key issues for public
policy. They have strong links to the humanities, medicine, technology,
and the arts. They have important implications for many areas
of cross- and inter-disciplinary research.
Research quality
26. In general, research is of high quality, with grades awarded ranging
from insufficient to excellent. In the social sciences, the School of
Social Work undertakes excellent research, with a mix of professional
education and scholarship of international quality. In the
behavioural sciences, the Department of Psychology is very good,
approaching excellent, being in the forefront of research related
to clinical, neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. The Department
of Economic History is one the largest of its kind in the
world, with excellent research of high international standard. An
additional focus on economics could well propel research into the
outstanding category. The Department of Economics also produces
excellent research and has good potential to rise even higher in
international rankings. Among the larger interdisciplinary units
CIRCLE stands out as excellent with a large and influential scholarly
productivity. To maintain excellence, it is important that the
university encourages research quality by creating clear incentives
for top-level publications. Such incentives could include greater
time available for research for those of proven excellence.
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