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

Panel 6 – social SCIENCEs
the Centre has a handicap because it does not provide a PhD programme
with the aim to produce researchers in the field. The question is whether
the Centre has capacities enough to fulfil requirements for such a programme.
Again, an institutional alliance with IR at the Department of
Political Science could be the solution giving benefits to both departments.
Results will not come automatically, and the Centre needs to have
enough teaching resources in order to reach a suitable balance in the division
of labour between the departments. A joint PhD programme could,
if successful, be a sustainable base for internal researcher recruitment.
10.3 Future potentials and possibilities
The interdisciplinary profile of the Centre is necessarily not a problem if a
closer collaboration with IR at the Department of Political Science will be
enhanced. In fact, the IR network is interdisciplinary as well. In addition,
following the official statement of the Copenhagen based Nordic Institute
of Asian Studies (NISA); they collaborate actively with universities
in the Öresund region. However, nothing is mentioned about NISA in
the self evaluation form. It might be a lapse, but if not, then this matter
must be seen as a problem. Again the Öresund collaboration must be
highlighted as the natural base for international cooperation and which
can give strength and enough critical mass for research and teaching. At
present, the plan ranks good.
10.4 Gender and equal opportunity issues
The gender balance at the Centre is not equally fulfilled. A man (the professor)
is the chair of the Centre, whereas three out of four researchers are
female. Added together there is a slight female majority but in terms of
positions in the hierarchy, there is not. Given the small size of the Centre,
possibilities at the moment are practically non-existent to make a career
in the organisation. Positions as lecturers could be an option to create,
given that resources are provided. Shared lecturers with the department
of Political Science is another, or why not take the train to Copenhagen
and negotiate a common strategy.
11. Centre for European Studies (CFE)
11.1 Overall assessment:
CFE is a coordinating centre for promoting research on Europe, connecting
scholars within the faculties of social sciences, humanities, economy
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