Since autumn 2017, we have been engaged in a university-wide process of formulating norms for the recruitment of permanent members of academic staff. The senior management team has just approved seven norms which are the result of productive discussions in the academic councils and a number of consultations with the research and teaching programmes. The norms are intended to strengthen recruitment practices at Aarhus University.

2018.02.20 | Brian Bech Nielsen

The norms are being introduced to help improve the quality and diversity of the fields of applicants to positions at all four faculties, and they set out a common framework without imposing inflexible rules. The norms address the use of search committees, re-advertisement, assessment committees, research abroad and appointment committees. They will constitute a common framework for recruitment at the university’s departments/schools and centres, where management will be responsible for the implementation of the norms in local guidelines.

The recruitment of academic staff is inextricably linked to the strategies for academic development at the faculties and departments/schools. The seven norms should be understood as a tool to aid in the development of good recruitment practices;

I see them as providing a basis for a structured, well-considered approach to our recruitment efforts. Attracting a large, broad field of highly-qualified applicants is crucial for Aarhus University.

Our researchers excel in the global competition. They are part of what makes up the university’s strong foundation – a foundation which we intend to maintain and strengthen even further. This is why recruitment is so important.

We expect that the new local guidelines at the faculties will be decided before the Easter holiday, and the implementation of the norms will be evaluated every year.

I’d like to conclude my remarks by thanking everyone involved for a constructive process, with a lot of good input from the research and teaching programmes, the academic councils and others.

The seven norms for appointment of academic staff to permanent positions are:

1.     All advertisements for academic positions must be formulated in broad terms and published both nationally and internationally.

2.     Search committees are a requirement, in order to ensure a sufficiently large, diverse pool of high-quality applicants (external applicants, international applicants and applicants of both sexes).

3.     A positions must be re-advertised if an insufficient number of qualified applications have been received by the application deadline.

4.     The majority of the members of the assessment committee must be external.

5.     Appointment committees are a requirement; in case of professorships, with the participation of the dean’s office/executive team.

6.     In connection with the assessment of applicant qualifications, great emphasis must be placed on long-term stays at one or more internationally recognised research institutions outside of Denmark.

7.     Appointing internal candidates to permanent positions without prior advertisement is not possible.

 

Aarhus University has introduced seven norms for the recruitment of permanent members of academic staff. The seven norms were laid down by the senior management team after discussion in the academic councils and several consultations with the research and teaching programmes. 

 

The norms will contribute to strengthening recruitment practices at Aarhus University, for example by helping to ensure the quality and diversity of the fields of applicants to positions at all four faculties. The norms provide a shared framework for recruitment and address the use of search committees, re-advertisement of positions, assessment committees, research abroad and appointment committees, and will be implemented at the departments/schools and centres, whose management will be responsible for integrating the norms with existing local guidelines.