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

Panel 2 – religious studies
8.1 Preliminary remark
For CTR, the evaluation takes place at a difficult time, after a major
restructuring due to financial problems, at the same time the Bologna
system has had to be implemented, and in the midst of a reorganization
which will result in it ceasing to be a centre and becoming a department
in the School of Humanities and Theology. To be downgraded from
an (old and leading) faculty to a centre and then to a mere department
causes problems of identity and motivation. It is a difficult, uncertain and
stressful times for staff and management a difficult time for evaluation
of research quality. However, we hope that the challenge of coping with
these difficult circumstances will lead to further fundamental and critical
reflection on a new identity as a department. At SHT level this process of
finding a new identity should be actively promoted and supported. CTR
has a strong reputation and should have the opportunity to keep that
reputation in a new setting. This is crucial in creating a motivation for
change.
8.2 Fields of research
The sub-division of CTR into 14 fields serves the purpose of indicating
to students, colleagues and those responsible for the budgets the type
of education and research CTR offer. Each field has at least one full
professor. The leading idea seems to be completeness of disciplines both
in Theology and in Religious Studies. This guarantees a wide or almost
complete range of opportunities for the study of Theology and Religion
which is a distinctive quality not only in teaching but also of in the
infrastructure for research (library, competent collegues). In response to
earlier criticism of being too sub-divided, several measures for concentration
and exchange have been taken. There are examples of joint ventures,
both in the form of research seminars (seven doctoral seminars and two
research seminars in Theology and the History of Religion), research
projects and other ad hoc arrangements. But there still seems to be
potential for more cooperation, especially when it comes to stimulating
interdiciplinary research and creating larger research groups.
CTR in Lund and the Theological Faculty of Uppsala are unique in
Sweden in that research within the History of Religion is carried out in a
faculty of Theology. However, it is not clear how and to what degree there
is an interplay between History of Religion and Theology that influences
research and creates synergy effects.
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