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

Panel 15 – LTH | product development
logistics of new urban mobility solutions (share driving, public shared
bicycles or cars…). Networking with other important academic centers
in the Oresund region could be attractive for academics looking for new
positions.
4.8 Gender and Equal Opportunity Issues
With respect of gender, the department is one of the worst in the College
of Engineering, in particular for the academic staff (women=0%). In
several countries, management research has attracted a growing number
of women. The grounded style of logistic research should improve the
gender ratio in PhD students.
4.9 Viability
The future plans of the IML department clearly raise issues about its viability.
The department has achieved high research quality, it has attracted
important grants and it is involved in major new projects of the University.
Yet, there is an organizational threat that could endanger in a short
term the sustainability of the department. It is critical that the faculty
conduct strategic discussions in order to build and develop a vision for the
department within the next six years: special focus should be made on the
constitution of a new leading team, and on how to increase the number
of PhD students. Furthermore, in terms of substance, the department
should focus more on emerging areas of research.
5. Department of Mechanical Engineering
5.1 Overall Assessment Good (3)
The Department of Mechanical Engineering has 15.5 research staff, split
into two broad research groupings. In each of these groupings there are
specific areas in which the research quality is high, as evidenced by journal
publications and by the international profile of the researchers. There
is a good level of engagement in international conferences and much
of the research involves industrial partnership, indicated the relevance
of the work. The main weaknesses of the department, from a research
perspective, are the low number of doctoral research students and the
falling research revenue from some external sources. In addition, the level
of international research collaboration is low.
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