Sara Hallin's declaration of intent

What do I want to work for as Pro Dean the coming three years? It is exciting to ask the question and reflect on it. Of course, I want the faculty to improve and continue to develop in terms of our core areas, research, education and environmental assessment, but also in our internal work. The faculty management must work as a team and make priorities for the faculty's positive development. But obviously there are some questions that I am extra passionate about.

One thing I want to work for is quality in research. Here, future recruitments are central. An important component is how we can increase the attractiveness of recruiting researchers from other universities within and outside Sweden. In addition to becoming better at attracting talented researchers from around the world, we must also become better at taking care of our own talents. In order not to lose talented researchers, the faculty should, for example, work for the opportunity to be promoted to professor.

Given the increasing complexity of research, talents may no longer be individuals, but research groups and research environments. Here, the faculty has an important role to play in safeguarding the good, innovative and productive environments. Good research environments must be paid attention to, taken care of and not taken for granted. An excellent environment often has a mix of skills and individuals who can work together and create something greater than the individual’s efforts.

Another important component for quality in research that I want to work for is PhD education. Our doctoral students do a large part of the faculty's research and are tomorrow's researchers. Quality in postgraduate education is therefore central to the quality of research both in the near and far future.

The pandemic has taught us how important it is to have a close and open dialogue between the departments and the faculty, as well as with the management at the Vice Chancellor level. In crises, we face new challenges and seek solutions together. We become closer to each other and must cooperate. We should continue with that when the pandemic ends.

The Head of Departments play a key role in the strategic development at the departmental level, whereas the faculty management works with the faculty as a whole. But to understand the overall faculty, detailed knowledge is needed and that is why a continuous and open dialogue with the departments is so important. I therefore want to work for maintaining the dialogue established between the faculty and the departments during the pandemic, but with a focus on strategic issues. Together we can develop the faculty.