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

Panel 16 – systems science
We feel that the current funding structure within the University and
the country is hindering not only graduate research but also long range
innovative strategic planning.
Teaching requirements seem to be totally arbitrary and vary from group
to group and Department to Department. Although it is evident that to
a major extent these are controlled by budget constraints, some level of
equity would help the staff feel invested and could promote their research
output and external funding.
4. Gender & Equal Opportunities issues
The fraction of female students studying engineering is traditionally
small, hence it is expected that the fraction of female faculty staff is also
small. In the three departments considered by this panel 5 out of a total
of 87 academic staff are female (6%). From these 5 there are 3 Senior
Lecturers, 2 Researchers and no Professors. About 16% of the registered
doctoral students are female. Hence, it is clear that women are more
under represented the higher the academic position. Perhaps this is partly
explained on historical grounds. It is to be expected that some of the
female Senior Lecturers might promote to the Professor level in the not
too distant future.
It seems that the Swedish society and the University are offering a wide
range of support for female employees. From the university side the one
year course in leadership for female academic and the higher reward for
female PhDs are very much appreciated. Also the efforts by the Faculty of
Engineering to attract more female students are considered very positive.
It is recommended that the University (e.g. by the Department of Gender
Studies) performs a detailed and University wide study to bring the severity
of the steady decrease of females with increasing professional level in
chart and to investigate the causes and remedies of this phenomenon by
conducting a general survey. It is further recommended that the Faculty
increases its efforts to attract more female students.
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