GU-Journal 6-2017

“We may believe that we are free from control, but we deliver exactly what the system wants.”

GUJournal TOM KARLSSON PAGE 12

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL FOR THE STAFF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG #6 DECEMBER 2017

NEWS

#metoo shakes things up NEWS

She takes over the Sahlgrenska Academy PEOPLE

Turkish guest doctoral candidate about the Swedish pre-school

THE STATE AND THE PEOPLE LAPUENTE WANTS TO SEE RECONCILIATION IN CATALONIA

VICE-CHANCELLOR Internationalisation contributes to the UN’s sustainability goals

Another important reason is to make our university appear even more attractive.

IN OUR ROLE as a university, sustainability has become an increasingly important issue. This was made very clear to me at the international conferences that I attended during the autumn.

Everyone has, in slightly different ways, focused on the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the 17 global sustainable development goals. One example is SANORD, which is a network for higher education institutions in the Nordic region and in Southern Africa.

At a recent SANORD conference in Zimbabwe, there was a great deal of discussion about how we can come together to tackle regional and global challenges within research, education and innovation, but also about how we can contribute to efforts to achieve the UN’s sustainability goals. For me, this is a compelling reason why the University of Gothenburg has to develop and strengthen its internationalisation work.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT REASON is

to make our university appear even more attractive. My hope is that a more international university will attract not just more students, but also more qualified researchers.

We must not forget either that the Swedish government has put pressure on higher education institutions to become more international.

In order to occupy a more prominent position internationally, we first have to know where we stand currently. That means looking at our existing contacts, collaborations and exchanges within the fields of both research and education. The International Centre has been given a variety of tasks, including producing an inventory of our cooperation agreements for student exchanges. According

to this, we have a total of 1,161 agreements at various levels within the University. The majority of these focus on student mobility during the first and second cycles. A total of 220 or just under 20 per cent of the agreements involve non-European partners.

WHEN IT COMES TO university-wide non-European agreements, there are 29 active bilateral agreements.

This is low compared with many other Swedish higher education institutions, for example Uppsala, which has a good deal more. A positive note, however, is that the agreements we do have often involve high-ranking universities, including ones in the USA, China and Japan. In the USA we also have four new North American universities coming on board. In South Africa we are well on the way to concluding a university-wide agreement with the university in Pretoria.

In order to strengthen our internationalisation work, we also need to consider what we want to achieve and how to go about it. I think that in 2018 we have to produce a university-wide internationalisation strategy that can provide us with a way forward. As far as I can tell, there is consensus that such a strategy is needed.

For a university that wants to contribute to a better future, internationalisation is quite simply an area that cannot be ignored.

EVA WIBERG

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

MASTHEAD Fight false statements FACT POLARISATION which is

spreading around is dangerous and gains constant new nourishment from populist forces, not just all of Trump’s inanities. As Åsa Wikforss, philosopher at Stockholm University, has shown in the new book Alternative Facts. About knowledge and its enemies, it is a dangerous development when debate is driven by emotions. The more that a

society is polarised the more the polarisation of facts increases. In line with the widening gaps in a society, the tensions also intensify.

AS A UNIVERSITY we have, of course, a special responsibility for opposing these flows which constitute an extreme threat to democracy and the basis of our shared society.

In this issue we write about the

crisis in Catalonia, the #metoomovement, and present the new Dean at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

We have also made an interview with a doctoral student from Turkey and talked to a researcher who wants to problematise how we think of New Public Management.

ALLAN ERIKSSON & EVA LUNDGREN

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“The protests against sexual harassment must lead to a lasting change”, explains Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg.

– Många tycker att det är onödigt att dra upp sådant som hänt under andra världskriget, förklarar hedersdoktor Anna Bikont.

Warszawa, Anna Bikonts hemstad.

Foto: JOHAN WINGBORG

CONTENTS NEWS 04–13

04. Slowly more gender equality 05: No tinsel in our Christmas trees 06. Meet Agneta Holmäng, who is to be the new dean of the ­Sahlgrenska Academy.

09. #metoo is not going to just fizzle out.

10. Guest doctoral candidates particularly exposed.

12. What does New Public Management really mean?

PROFILE 14–19

14. Victor Lapuente hopes for reconciliation in Catalonia.

PEOPLE 20–23

20. Sifa Cakmak Teloglu impressed by Swedish pre-schools.

22. Researchers from throughout Sweden come to Tjärnö.

Agneta Holmäng is new Dean at the Sahlgrenska Academy.

DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

Slowly more gender equality Women currently account for only 22 per cent of professors at the Faculty of Science. A gender mainstreaming programme is being implemented at the Faculty and throughout the rest of the University of Gothenburg. “A number of subjects in science are heavily male-dominated, but not all,” explains Dean Elisabet Ahlberg.

SO FAR THIS YEAR the Faculty of

Science has employed eight new professors, two of whom are women. All the appointments, except one man, involved promotion. A further three professors, two male and one female, have been proposed by the Academic Appointments Board. If the proposals are approved, eight new male and three new female professors will have been appointed during the year.

“Here it is the Faculty’s Academic Appointments Board that deals with employment-related matters, and not the department,” explains Faculty Secretary Marie Emanuelsson. “However, one or two representatives of the department are involved throughout the appointment process, and it is the Head of Department who puts forward expert reviewers. For senior lectureships we have two expert reviewers, and three for professorships, which is more than is required by the University’s employment arrangements.”

ELISABET AHLBERG POINTS out that the Faculty is careful to appoint both male and female reviewers.

“I ask the expert reviewers to put together a leading group, in no

4 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

particular order, that must be clearly justified, but I also ask them to explain why some people are not included in the group. Often, but not always, the expert reviewers reach the same conclusion.”

During a number of the autumn’s recruitment activities, representatives of the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research sat in on proceedings. One of them is Anna Peixoto, a senior lecturer in work science.

Anna Peixoto

Quite simply, we look for the best.

“WE ARE PRESENT AS observers but can also put forward suggestions about, for example, how announcements of job vacancies can be worded to ensure clarity. I think it is great that the entire faculty is involved, particularly as small departments that don’t recruit as often may need the additional knowledge that is available centrally.”

Among the Faculty’s senior lecturers the statistics are more balanced than

ELISABET AHLBERG

Facts/Percentage of men and women (number of individuals)

Researchers

female 30 36 % men 53

Visiting teaching staff

female 3 men 11

27 %

Postdoctoral fellow

female men

15 25

38 %

Professors

female 21 men 73

22 %

Senior lecturers

female men

41 %

34 49

The statistics are taken from the payroll register, December 2017.

NEWS Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

is the case among professors, with approximately 41 per cent being women.

During the year the Faculty has gained 11 new senior lecturers, six of whom are women. Six of the new senior lecturers were recruited, with half being women. The Academic Appointments Board has also put forward two male senior lecturers. If these proposals are approved, it will mean seven new male and six new female senior lecturers.

ELISABET AHLBERG FEELS that efforts have been ongoing for a long time to emphasise the merits of female employees.

“Among other things, the departments are reviewing the service plans.

This isn’t a new initiative; in fact, what we are seeing now are the results of years of work.” Anna Peixoto thinks that there are more areas the University can look at in terms of gender equality.

“The format of the postings, the words that are chosen – is the wording so narrow that only a small number of people can apply? How are the expert reviewers chosen? Has there been a conscious choice to include both men and women, and what instructions have they been given in terms of writing opinions? A lot of the work has to do with being clear. The most important factor is that a person’s merits are assessed in such a way that meritocracy is ensured.”

Elisabet Ahlberg explains that a number of science subjects are nevertheless still heavily male-dominated.

“However, within conservation for example things are more balanced, so there are big differences between disciplines.”

The Faculty’s postings are always international, but Elisabet doesn’t think that that affects the gender balance.

“No, I can’t see that that has anything to do with the matter as far as science subjects are concerned. Quite simply, we look for the best.”

Hello

Bethanie Carney Almroth,

senior lecturer in zoophysiology!

City of Gothenburg has decided to stop procuring, using and distributing products containing microplastics. That’s why there’s no tinsel on the municipal Christmas trees. What are your thoughts?

“It’s fantastic. But Sweden still lags behind a number of other countries when it comes to banning microplastics. For example, the Swedish government has asked the Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) to put together a bill on microplastics in hygiene products that is currently in the third round of consultation. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) will also examine how discharges of other microplastics are managed, for example from car tyres, artificial turf and textiles.”

Why is it so difficult to ban microplastics?

“There are a number of difficulties involved, including defining what we mean by plastic, which is a collective term for a multitude of

different materials, and what we mean by hygiene products. I don’t think, for example, that glitter in nail polish and cosmetics will be covered by the future bill. On the other hand, other countries, such as the USA, the United Kingdom and France, have succeeded in banning microplastics in products such as face lotion and toothpaste, so we should be able to do the same.”

Do you think that the University of Gothenburg should also be leading the way when it comes to banning microplastics?

“I absolutely think that we should be a role model. For example, what about using tap water instead of buying in bottled water, eliminating disposable products and reviewing how things are packaged? Plastic is everywhere in our everyday life and sometimes you don’t even think about something being plastic, as in the case of tinsel. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of the issue to enable people to make responsible choices.”

EVA LUNDGREN DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

Wants more cooperation “I want to give more power to collegial governance”, says Agneta Holmäng who won the Sahlgrenska Academy dean election by a wide margin.

NATURALLY, AGNETA HOLMÄNG is

happy about the election result.

However, she is almost even more pleased with voter turnout that was just above 60 per cent – the highest since 2012 when the faculty began recording election statistics.

“This shows that our staff are passionate, and this is something I have worked hard for during my 11 years as head of department. Research groups often live in their own little bubbles and are not interested in the organisation as a whole – until they are unhappy with a decision that has been made. I have placed a

6 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

lot of energy into creating order in the decision making process, which provides transparency and consequently the possibility to understand the background – even if you do not always get what you want.”

As the new dean, Agneta Holmäng will visit all departments and try to meet with as many members of staff as possible. She will focus on trying to overcome the differences that can arise in academia, and create greater collaboration between the departments. She will also ask all research group leaders about individual reforms they believe would be

After 11 years as head of department, Agneta Holmäng will step into the role as dean following Olle Larkö.

Agneta Holmäng Age: 58.

Currently: New Dean of the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Role: Head of Department at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology. Leads the project PONCH – Pregnancy, Obesity, Nutrition, Child Health.

Background: Began as a doctor. Professor of laboratory medicine, and has also taught endocrine physiology for several years. Board member of several committees, steering groups and councils. Has conducted evaluations for research councils and foundations in Norway, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Iceland Qatar and Italy. She has supervised several doctoral students.

Family: Husband (also a doctor) and four children. The youngest, aged 19, still lives at home.

Lives: In Kullavik.

Interests: Exercises every day after work, has two Shetland sheepdogs. Loves cooking.

Role model: Her father.

Personal quality: Happy and positive.

About #metoo: It has successfully raised awareness of women’s situations, however she has never been subjected.

You didn’t know: During one summer holiday, Agneta Holmäng took care of a farm and milked cows on Gotland. During her studies at Karolinska Institutet, she had a military permit to ride horses in the cavalry regiment.

➔ DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS

We often receive foreign visitors to the Sahlgrenska Academy, and they are always impressed with our good relationship to the hospital.

AGNETA HOLMÄNG

most beneficial to their activities.

Agneta Holmäng believes that cooperation is important.

“We often receive foreign visitors to the Sahlgrenska Academy, and they are always impressed with our good relationship to the hospital.

Furthermore, we work with Chalmers in projects such as MedTech West, the most eminent platform within the field of technology-life sciences in Sweden. We also collaborate extensively with others at GU, for example through the AgeCap and Celam centres of expertise and research and I once sat on the board of the School of Sport Science”.

There are increasing advantages to being part of a large and diverse university, even though Agneta Holmäng feels that Sahlgrenska Academy should have a greater influence, as it generates almost half of the university’s turnover. Furthermore, she believes that today more than ever, the distinctive nature of the different faculties should be respected.

Political decisions also create problems.

“The Government has decided that research assistant positions are to be phased out by 1 April 2018. This means that we will have around 50 new associate senior lecturers next year, almost all of whom will be externally financed.

We are unable to allocate teaching hours to all of them, as our professional education programmes require specific skills. At the same time, GU will be reviewing its appointments procedure and it has been suggested that a senior lecturer is to have the right to be promoted to professor. The Sahlgrenska Academy agrees that promotion will only be a possibility. If this proposal goes

8 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

through, we must be allowed to have our own regulations.”

Instead, the appointments should be advertised at all levels, believes Agneta Holmäng.

“Just like other higher education institutions in the country, our internal recruitment is far too high.

Therefore, we should make it easier for staff to move around, rather than encourage them to remain in the same place all their life. This also creates an unfair situation for talented young researchers who perhaps, through no fault of their own, have not been able to capture real competitive merits during their time as a doctoral student or postdoctoral appointment. This leaves them at risk from being shut out of an academic career if the decision has already been made at an early stage about who will become professors one day.”

Another important issue is the construction projects planned at Medicinareberget, which includes a large science centre.

“The collaboration with the Faculty of Natural Sciences is incredibly important to us. But building a centre for 650 researchers and 2,000 students right in the middle of Medicinareberget seems a tad extreme if you ask me. We need to reflect more upon this.”

Agneta Holmäng also wants to attract external funding to the Sahlgrenska Academy, now the many problems at KI will perhaps lead to financiers becoming interested in different medical educational institutions. She also wants to focus on the students, who according to a new survey are suffering a lot of stress.

At least she has had some time for her research during her period as head of department. This is something she will lose out on now.

“I am in charge of the PONCH project that studies the importance of diet amongst women with gestational diabetes. We have received a fair amount of direct government funding and have reached interesting results.

Fortunately I have a talented postdoc who can take over my responsibility when I no longer have time.”

Agneta Holmäng has always worked hard. The reason she can manage this high tempo is because she is careful to give herself time to recover.

“I must be able to sit down and read a book occasionally. Plus I have a husband, four children and two dogs I also want to spend time with.”

Text: EVA LUNDGREN & ALLAN ERIKSSON Photo: THOMAS JOHANSSON

NEWS/#METOO

Zero tolerance approach to harassment

“I AM DISMAYED, but not surprised.

The question being asked now is how can we implement a real and lasting change. To succeed, all members of society must take responsibility,” explains Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg after the wave of revelations of sexual assault and harassment to have received media attention over recent weeks.

The University of Gothenburg will increase the scope of information about sexual harassment and victimisation in staff training courses, right the way from the introductory course for new staff to all courses for management.

“Next year, the university will enlist more deans and heads of department, who will all receive special information about how to react against harassment of any kind. Students will also receive the information at the start of the course, in both Swedish and English.

We will also work with preventative measures during the regular development reviews between staff and management.

HUMAN RESOURCES are also planning to arrange specific investigation units out in the organisation. The purpose of these is to go through regulations, investigative methods and enable exchange of experience.

“The University of Gothenburg

Board has also been informed about how we are working with the issue, and will follow up our measures,” Eva Wiberg explains.

The university is an elitist organisation where several members of staff are in a strong state of dependence. Doctoral students are often particularly vulnerable, even more so if they have come from a different country.

“In Sweden, we think we are quite safe, but for those coming from a different culture with other referential frameworks, it isn’t so easy to understand what applies.

Hence it is important that everyone coming to GU from abroad – researchers, teachers, doctoral students or students – is told about our work with equality and made aware that there is a zero tolerance approach to harassment.”

VICTIMISATION FALLS under the Swedish Work Environment Act, whereas sexual harassment can be prosecuted and must be reported to the police. The 2015 Working Environment Barometer stated that 1.6 per cent of staff said that they had been subjected to sexual harassment that year, which equates to 58 employees.

“It can be assumed that there is a large number of unreported instances,” Eva Wiberg emphasises. “Per-

Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

“We will be implementing an extensive support package from Human Resources, Educational Affairs, company health service and the Student Health Centre. This issue will be taken seriously, and not be left to fizzle out”.

This is Eva Wiberg’s promise following the #metoo campaign and #akademiuppropet – the reaction ­against sexual harassment in academia in Sweden.

Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg

Facts you need support or advice in the event of sexual harassment or victimisation, contact Feelgood, the University of Gothenburg’s main supplier of occupational health services. Information can be found on https://medarbetarportalen.gu.se/ anstallning.

haps many people refrain from reporting events as they took place long ago, they want to avoid conflict or they simply do not think it is a good idea. Nevertheless, if a report does not lead to anything in the individual case, it can help the police establish patterns with a certain person.”

Despite there being a grey area for what constitutes harassment or victimisation, Eva Wiberg believes that the majority already know where to draw the line.

“I hope that everyone who has been subjected has the courage to report this to their managers or directly to the police. The University of Gothenburg management take these issues most seriously, and will ensure that #metoo leads to real change.”

EVA LUNDGREN DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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NEWS/#METOO

Foreign doctoral students more vulnerable “In ten years, when we look back on 2017 we will think: wow, that was when it happened!”

This is the hope of three doctoral students that GU Journalen spoke to about the #metoo movement and #akademiuppropet. They hope it will not fade out, but lead to real change.

Text: EVA LUNDGREN Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

EVEN THOUGH I know that sexual harassment is everywhere in society, I did not expect this flood of stories,” says Houman Sadri, chair of GUDK the University of Gothenburg Doctoral Student’s Committee. “Every woman I have spoken to about #metoo has a story about their own experience.”

Sexual harassment is about power, Malin Podlevskikh Carlström, deputy chair of GUDK points out.

“In 2015 when the University of Gothenburg decided that we doctoral students have the right to employment from the first day, our position changed considerably.

Furthermore, more rights have been added over the years. Yet whatever it says on paper does not necessarily correspond with reality; doctoral students are entitled to change supervisor without needing to provide an explanation, but how can somebody in the middle of a project do this? Nor do many people know what applies, even though the Faculty of Arts where I operate informs all doctoral students of their rights as soon as they are admitted.” “ Harassment is always awful, but

10 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

doctoral students out on field work are particularly vulnerable,” explains doctoral student Anna. “I have recently conducted studies in several refugee centres. On one occasion I was harassed by two politicians, which completely shocked me. If you are out in the field, it is difficult to get the support you need.”

If a fieldworker wants to return home early, often they must cover the travel expenses themselves.

“IN PART, this is a large cost that a

person might not be able to afford, nor is it guaranteed that a person will be granted a new scholarship to return and complete their project. It is wrong that departmental budgets are often so tight for field studies, so there aren’t the resources to react if something happens.”

Yet it is a supervisor’s task to support their doctoral students, otherwise they aren’t doing their job, believes Houman Sadri.

“GU has the same responsibility, regardless of who the doctoral students are, where they are or what type of research they are conducting. Imagine if a doctoral student

Houman Sadri hopes #metoo will lead to a real change.

ends up in the centre of a conflict in the Middle East for example, of course the university must react then.”

Maybe GU should establish a special hotline function directly available to all field researchers, suggests Malin Podlevskikh Carlström.

“This would also be a support for the supervisor, who often is not a specialist in the specific situation in the country where the doctoral student is.”

A lack of language skills also creates vulnerability. The University of Gothenburg is to be an internatio-

NEWS/#METOO

nal education institution where all essential information must be available in both Swedish and English according to the language policy established by the Vice-Chancellor in 2015.

BUT IN REALITY, it doesn’t work like

that, Anna explains.

“Certain institutions only communicate in Swedish, and there is a lack of information in English.

As a foreign doctoral student you are then dependent on somebody translating it, which can make the doctoral student feel like an inconvenience. A person who doesn’t understand is also excluded from the group.”

One particular group are the “sandwich doctoral students”, doctoral students receiving support from Sida to come to Sweden to study and then return to their home country and contribute to development there.

“Often, their English is not as good as other doctoral students, plus they find themselves in an even more pressurised work situation – it would be a disaster if they returned home without graduating,” explains Houman Sadri.

Being a doctoral student is being part of a rather ambivalent situation. You are both an employed researcher and a student, represented by the student associations – but not always. You are at the bottom of the hierarchy, but are still important for research and teaching to work.

“MY SUPERVISOR, whom I otherwi-

se get along with really well is not my boss, however they still have a power over me,” Houman Sadri points out. “The supervisor is the one to decide if, for example, I have completed 80 per cent of the research work that entitles me to a pay rise.”

“Most doctoral students do enjoy researching, and would like to stay at the university,” Malin Podlevskikh Carlström explains.

“If you want to publish something

Malin Podlevskikh Carlström suggests that GU establishes a special hotline function directly available to all field researchers.

At the same time there are clear rules about what applies.

MALIN PODLEVSKIKH CARLSTRÖM

with your supervisor and be part of research applications, you might not mention a problem – particularly if there is not much time left before the public defence of the doctoral thesis. At the same time, there are clear rules about what applies, so this is not the problem. Instead certain faculties and institutions do not make sure they are actually followed.”

ALL THREE DOCTORAL students be-

lieve that the #metoo movement and subsequent #akademiupproret must bring about change.

“There are two options: either the movement dies out and society continues to brush sexual harassment under the carpet, or 2017 will be the year when something actually happens,” states Houman Sadri. “If all of these movements don’t lead to any real development, then what will?”s

Facts Anna is one of many GU doctoral students from outside of Sweden.

She wants to be anonymous.

Malin Podlevskikh Carlström is a doctoral student in Slavic languages, as well as deputy chair of the University of Gothenburg Doctoral Student Committee.

Houman Sadri is a doctoral student in English literature and is chair of the University of Gothenburg Doctoral Student Committee, in addition to a member of the Faculty of Art’s board.

Regulations for doctoral students are available here:https://medarbetarportalen.gu.se/styrdokument/ Utbildning The language policy is available here:https://medarbetarportalen. gu.se/styrdokument/internationalisering

NEWS

NPM – an overused tool in the debate In recent times, the term New Public Management has been used frequently within both general debate and academia. The idea is to make things more effective, but these reforms are far from being unproblematic.

Text: HENRIK SANDGREN Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

FOR SOME TIME now, the University of Gothenburg – together with other universities and society as a whole – has been the subject of various reforms that come under the concept of New Public Management, or NPM. In brief, NPM is a collective term for a number of different ways to try to make the public sector more efficient by borrowing ideas from industry. But even if the term NPM is regularly tossed around in public debate, it is not always easy to know what exactly it means.

Tom Karlsson, a researcher at the School of Public Administration, has recently published a new book, New Public Management – Ett nyliberalt 90-talsfenomen? (“New Public Management – A neoliberal 90s phenomenon?”), in which he investigates the term and puts it into a historic context. He believes that NPM has been watered down to include so many concepts that it is almost better to avoid it completely.

“If, for example, we take a critical view of profit within welfare for ideological reasons, the problem with saying that NPM is wrong is that we are then saying that meticulous gathering of information to find out which resources are needed is also wrong,” explains Tom. “It’s so big that we almost can’t talk about it. And if we take a critical view of performance measurement, we’re also criticising performance measurement.”

HAVING SAID THAT, there are still many issues that come under NPM and that are highly topical within academia. Market management, management ideals and standardisation are just a few such examples, with the Bologna Process being perhaps one of the biggest reforms of recent years. Another much-debated topic at the University of Gothenburg is line management, where power has shifted from the previous system of collegial control towards the head of department.

“I don’t think the consequences should be exaggera-

12 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

ted,” he continues. “However, many people feel that they can no longer find their way around our operations. If you’re used to collegial control, it can create some kind of dissonance. In practice, I believe that the head of department can’t just push through any decision, but there is a symbolic value.”

Although it tends not to be included in the discussion on NPM, market thinking is also making a breakthrough when it comes to applying for research funding, and here the consequences are more obvious.

“It’s a completely bizarre situation – we use so much of our expertise and our resources hunting for funding so we can continue researching. If we’d invested all that energy in actually doing some research, we could have achieved a great deal. Maybe we should think about just handing the funding straight over instead.”

BY USING A SYSTEM whereby publications in different

journals are awarded different points, we try to measure how much research is generated and how good it is.

This then forms part of the basis for how much money the department receives. One obvious problem with this is that when research is published in places that do not score any points, it is not included in the statistics.

This includes debate articles, reports for authorities and much more besides.

“My book was published by Studentlitteratur, so the School of Public Administration is awarded points, but with a different publisher we might not have got any. So you have to ask whether the system might be wrongly rigged.”

Another perhaps slightly less obvious problem is that the journals that award points are often hosted behind a paywall, preventing the dissemination of research. What is measured and evaluated often does not reach the public or politicians, benefiting only the in-

NEWS

Tom Karlsson Currently: His book, New Public Management – A neoliberal 90s phenomenon?

Work: Senior lecturer at the School of Public Administration.

Background: Defended his thesis in business administration at the School of Economics and Management at Lund University, but has a background as a cook and in telemarketing. Came to the University of Gothenburg in 2016.

Lives: Utby, Gothenburg.

Family: Partner and two children.

Age: 38.

Most common source of irritation: When the public sector doesn’t work as well as it could.

Secret talent: I’m pretty nifty at ­reversing a car with a trailer.

tra-academic debate. Result measurement is also found within teaching, where the throughput of students is what is measured. Here, Tom believes the biggest error lies in not taking the actual education into account, and this is of course a problem for higher education.

“The per-capita funding system means that we receive half the money when the student is admitted and the rest when they pass. You don’t need to be of a particularly conspiratorial inclination to see that this will lead to an increase in throughput, but it is at least potentially possible through lowering the knowledge requirements.”

Another risk is that students – perhaps particularly foreign students who have to pay for their education – will see themselves as customers and may therefore place other demands on the education.

“I believe it would be harmful for our students to get the impression that this is a buyer and seller relationship. The education would take second place, but it might also mean students getting angry if they fail as they haven’t received what they paid for.”

OF COURSE, there are also benefits to NPM, and Tom

still believes that we need a management system. His point is that the system needs to be arranged so that it actually produces desirable results.

“We may believe that we are free from control, but we deliver exactly what the system wants. That’s why I think these questions are so important, including within society as a whole, so that we know what the consequences are. If we ask the question we get a certain answer, and if we rig the system we get a certain effect.”

DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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PROFILE

“Appointments to positions should be based on merit, not by means of personal contacts,” says Victor Lapuente.

14 GUJOURNAL DECEMBER 2017

Myths worsen the crisis More common sense and less strong feelings! That’s what political scientist Victor Lapuente is calling for in the political debate in general, and especially so in Spain.

“Soon, there will be an election in Catalonia, and hopefully individuals who are more willing to compromise will come into power.”

Text: EVA LUNDGREN Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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Spanish unionists hold up Spanish and Catalan flags during a demonstration in Barcelona on November 18. Photo: Albert Gea/Reuters. Fhoto: Albert Gea/Reuters.

VICTOR LAPUENTE GREW UP in Barcelona and learned

the Catalan language, among other things, from his mother. Already when he was a young boy, he was thinking about injustices in society – why some people have so much of everything, while others have hardly anything at all. Then in high school, when he was studying about the social welfare countries in the Nordic region, he began to take an interest especially in Sweden. For a while, he was thinking about becoming a journalist.

“Instead, in Spain I studied social sciences subjects, earned a doctorate in political science at Oxford, and then came to the truly amazing QoG Institute here in Gothenburg 10 years ago. Sometimes I write debate articles for newspapers such as the Spanish daily El País and the Guardian; I never became an actual journalist, but I nevertheless think it is really important that political scientists communicate with the general public. Plus, my articles in regular newspapers have led to more contacts with politicians than my scientific works have.”

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At the QoG institute, he has devoted himself to an extensive variety of different issues.

On his desk in his university office lies, for instance the recently published book Organizing Leviathan, which he wrote with his colleague Carl Dahlström. In it, they discuss why some countries have a well-developed democracy while others have severe problems with abuse of power, corruption and a very low level of trust among their citizens.

“HOW WELL A COUNTRY FUNCTIONS doesn’t depend so much on the political domicile of the holders of power, on how large the bureaucracy in the country is, or even on rules and laws. The decisive factor is instead that appointments to governmental and political positions are separated, in other words, that a civil servant, is not dependent upon the benevolence of those holding high government office to be able to retain their job; appointments to positions should be based on merit, not by means of personal contacts.”

In another project, in joint collaboration with Japanese researcher Kohei Suzuki, he has shown that

PROFILE been part of Spain for over 500 years. This prosperous multicultural region has a thriving economy, a native language which is used on the radio and television, and in newspapers, along with a national pride combined with extensive tolerance towards others. Identical with other Spanish autonomous regions, since 1978 (when Spain adopted its present Constitution) Catalonia has been guaranteed a high degree of autonomy.

At the moment however, the region is under the compulsory administration and control of the central government in Madrid, since 27 October when Catalonia’s President, Carles Puigdemont, following an illegal referendum, proclaimed Catalonia to be an independent republic. Several Catalan politicians were arrested and five ministers, including Carles Puigdemont, fled to Belgium. In addition, the top leadership of the Catalan police force has been dismissed and more than a thousand companies have threatened to move their headquarters from the region, among them several banks.

For Victor Lapuente, the events have meant that he has had to spend quite a bit of time in recent months explaining how all this mayhem could have arisen.

“THAT THE CONFLICT was able to escalate is due to

women in the public sector find creative solutions to problems to a greater extent than men do.

“Even if the difference is somewhat small, the research results are nevertheless interesting and relevant, as the general perception tends to be the exact opposite, i.e. that women are less likely to take the initiative than men are.”

And together with his colleague Nicholas Charron, Victor Lapuente has studied how public administration functions in Europe’s various regions.

“THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN a country can sometimes be greater than between countries. For example, Italy is almost like two different nations, where the northern part is significantly less corrupt than the southern.

Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions to the problem: for example, more stringent rules can lead to increased hassle for the common man, while those who are experts at fiddling will still manage to circumvent the system.”

One region that has of course been in focus in the news media in recent months is Catalonia, which has

Religion can play a role, not via faith in a god but rather by the belief that man is not God.

two strong equally false myths: on the one hand, the separatists believe that over the course of history the central government of Spain subjected the region to major oppression, which is not accurate. On the other hand, the Unionists believe it is better to take hard line than to be more conciliatory. When Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy commanded the riot police to halt the referendum, he had the law on his side, but at the same time he also fuelled the ordinary citizen’ opposition to Madrid. He needs to realise that what makes a modern government work is not violence but rather legitimacy among the people.”

The struggle for autonomy has been extremely well-organized, even if both sides of the conflict are also quite fragmented.

“On 21 December, elections will be held again, but according to the Constitution, Catalonia cannot become really independent,” explains Victor Lapuente. “Opinion polls show that the support among those who are loyal to Spain and the separatists is equal in strength, but also that 27 percent of the voters have not yet decided how they will vote. A worst-case scenario would be that the election results lead to even more conflicts, but my personal hope is that instead, the region will give a chance to start anew, with new members in its parliament.”

One of the first European ministers who displayed their support of Spain’s course of action, was France’s President Emmanuel Macron. And also the EU wants to see stability in the EU’s fourth-largest economy.

“However, it is quite ironic that the European Union, via its single currency and its united defence, on the one hand makes greater independence for different regions possible, and on the other hand, makes real DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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PROFILE

The Catalonia crisis Catalonia has, in similarity with all regions in Spain, a significant degree of autonomy.

The region has its own language – Catalan, which is used in various news media and is taught at school.

However, a large minority of the population, estimated at 40 percent, wants to form a separate autonomous state, something that is contrary to the Spanish Constitution.

On the 1st of October, the Catalan government held an unlawful referendum.

Ninety-two percent of the persons voting said

“yes” to independence, but only 43 percent of eligible voters participated in the referendum. The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been severely criticised for having sent riot-equipped police forces to Catalonia to stop the election.

On 27 October, the President of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, proclaimed the Independent Republic of Catalonia. The independence lasted for four hours. In the evening, the Spanish Prime Minister declared the Catalan Par-

liament as dissolved, according to Article 155 of the Constitution.

This Article has never been used previously, however it permits the central government to take control over regions threatening Spain’s central values. A large part of the Catalan Government has either been arrested or has fled.

Katalonien

SPANIEN Madrid

Girona Barcelona Tarragona

A new election was held in Catalonia on 21 December.

independence more difficult than ever as its Member States are so strongly bound by various agreements that have the objective of maintaining the status quo. The regions are important within the EU, but the cooperation between the countries is still based on the interests of the Member States.

THE ONLY COUNTRY IN EUROPE that has a separatist movement that can be compared with Catalan is Scotland. But even if the risk of further regional fragmentation in Europe is not particularly significant, the turmoil in Spain can still lead to anxiety elsewhere, according to Victor Lapuente.

“The conflict in Catalonia is a typical example of what is often referred to as a ‘social dilemma,’ where neither party wants to give ground. Nevertheless, the solution needs to consist of a compromise, for example, that the Constitution will be reformed in the direction of further autonomy or independence for the regions, while Spain is held together.”

At the moment, the interest surrounding Spain is huge, and not only among political scientists. Generally, the research is influenced to a significant degree due to the fact that scholarly articles must be written in English, in order to facilitate their dissemination internationally.

“There is no doubt about it, it is good to have a lingua franca among academic researchers, whether it’s Latin, English or some other language. But unfortunately, we have also gotten into a sort of cultura franca, where the Anglo-Saxon world has evolved into both GUJOURNAL DECEMBER DECEMBER2017 18 GUJOURNAL 2017

F R A N KR IKE

norm and primary object of research. This is unfortunate, as there are or course many other things that can be relevant and interesting to study, such as what is occurring in the Nordic countries.”

For example, Sweden might be able to serve as a role model in many areas, according to Victor Lapuente. For instance, when it comes to how patriotism and religion is dealt with.

“SWEDES MANAGE TO BE PROUD of their football team,

waving flags and celebrating their religious holidays in their own particular way, without being arrogant and thinking that everyone else is wrong. Pride, coupled with humility and the ability to feel shame when something goes really wrong, is a good kind of patriotism that works to bridge differences rather than exacerbating them, and this is something we need to see more of.”

In addition, religion can be a unifying force, unless of course it leads to fundamentalism and repression of those who think differently, says Victor Lapuente.

“One of the biggest dilemmas of the present day is how the relationship between the individual and the society is meant to function. Here, religion can play a role, not via faith in a god but rather by the belief that man is not God. The word “human” is associated with “humus,” which means dirt, but also with “humility.” We need to be reminded of our cultural backgrounds, where religion has always played an important role, and that there is more to existence than what man immediately understands.”

“More common sense and less strong feelings!”

Name: Victor Lapuente Giné Works as: Senior Lecturer of Political Science at the Quality of Government Institute (QoG).

Background: Grew up in Barcelona, received his doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Family: Wife, two sons, 6 and 4 years old.

Resides: In Mölndal.

Most recently read book: The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter by Joseph Henrich Most recently seen film: The documentary Spielberg.

Favourite food: Squid, Galician style.

Likes most about Spain/Catalonia: Its diversity, the combination of tradition and modernity, that in some places it feels like the Middle Ages and in others like the Twenty-Third Century.

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PEOPLE

“Interviewing children is such fun!”

Constant surprises and challenges.

These are the best things about interviewing children in a research context, according to Sifa Cakmak Teloglu. As a visiting doctoral student at the Faculty of Education, she studies preschool pupils’ understanding of technology and friendship.

Text: KARIN FREJRUD Photo: JOHAN WINGBORG

Sifa Cakmak Teloglu Age: 28.

Work: Visiting doctoral ­student at the Department of Education and Special Education.

From: Turkey.

Family: My husband Ugur, mum and dad, two sisters and a brother.

Hobbies: Walking. It’s both a hobby and a habit. I walk when I’m happy or sad, when I need to think about my research or to clear my head.

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HE AUTUMN HAS flown by. In mid-January, Sifa Cakmak Teloglu will be packing her suitcases and returning home to Turkey to continue her doctoral studies at Hacettepe University in Ankara. After a rewarding six months, it will be with a touch of sadness that she leaves Sweden and Gothenburg.

“I’ve been very happy here. I’ve learnt so much, completed several fascinating courses, met international researchers and made new friends and colleagues.”

One of the reasons why Sifa chose Sweden for her Erasmus exchange was the high quality of Swedish preschools. The other reason was that the University of Gothenburg and Hacettepe University have been working together on a Linneaus-Palme project. In 2015, Senior Lecturer Ann-Katrin Swärd began a teaching staff exchange and taught doctoral students studying special education. Sifa was one of these doctoral students. After that, she and her husband Ugur chose to come to Gothenburg.

“Swedish preschools are first class,” she explains.

“I wanted to learn how the Swedish education system works and how the preschools here have become so successful.”

SIFA’S RESEARCH FIELD is preschool pupils and different approaches to their learning. She notes that the Swedish preschool system differs significantly from the Turkish system. Here, spending time outdoors and free play are prioritised, and there are many educationalists. In Turkey, each teacher often has 20–25 pupils. Preschool is state run, and is offered from the age of three.

Sifa wrote her master’s dissertation on particularly gifted children and how they deal with moral dilemmas. She first became interested in the subject after reading a book about Hitler’s childhood and his early passion for painting, which was crushed when he failed to get into art school.

“He wasn’t evil as a child. And that made me start thinking: being intelligent isn’t enough, you also need moral principles. So how do particularly gifted preschool pupils think about morals? Do they deal with moral dilemmas differently to normally gifted children?”

IT TURNED OUT that particularly gifted children actual do. Sifa herself was surprised at the depth shown by children in their moral reasoning. In her study, she interviewed two groups of preschool pupils: a group that had scored highly in IQ tests, and a group that was classed as normally gifted. They then had to take a standpoint on various moral dilemmas based on a short story. But rather than focusing on the actual decision, the study looked at the children’s reasoning

in connection with the dilemma. Their answers were then assessed on a six-point scale created by Lawrence Kohlberg (Theory of Moral Development, 1958).

“Several of the particularly gifted children scored a five,” she says. “Lots of adults don’t score that highly.

“I was surprised at the level of sensitivity exhibited by the children. It turned out that they think a lot about moral issues, and that they feel very much alone in having these thoughts.”

SIFA FINDS USING preschool pupils in research studies both rewarding and challenging. It is impossible to predict where an interview will lead, and it can be hard to get young children to focus on the questions.

“But interviewing children is a lot of fun!” she laughs. “They’re extremely creative, and they’re a constant source of surprises. They might suddenly start talking about their birthday or their cousin, so things are never predictable.”

Since coming to Gothenburg, Sifa has been involved in two new research projects. One deals with preschool pupils’ attitudes towards technology, and the other looks at their views of friendship. These are both comparative studies taking place in parallel in Sweden and Turkey, with 50 children being interviewed in each country.

“It’s fun, as I’ll be continuing to work with this back home in Turkey, which will include interviewing several preschool pupils.”

Sifa grew up in Hatay, in southern Turkey. She describes her home town as a beautiful Mediterranean town with a wealth of multicultural influences. Here, different religions and peoples come together in a creative environment. The atmosphere of her home town, her parents’ strong commitment and their lively discussions with Sifa and her three siblings have had a formative effect on her.

“MY DAD WAS the head teacher and a teacher at my

school, and he’s my idol. He always did everything he could in the children’s best interests. My mum stayed at home, and she was also our teacher. She talked to us a lot about everything from nature, morals and religion to physics.”

Continuing to study also came naturally to Sifa. She had originally intended to become a teacher, too, just like her father. But during her first year at university, she realised that she was better suited to an academic career.

“I’m an extremely curious person. I love reading, finding out about things and writing. Teaching also felt like such a responsible career to me. Now I can still help children by teaching their future teachers!”s

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PEOPLE

At the end of November marine researchers from throughout Sweden gathered at the Tjärnö marine research ­station in order to discuss trends and future challenges within the field of marine research. New this year was the fact that the conference was also aimed at researchers from outside the natural sciences.

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Martin Visbeck from The Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean in conversation with Martin Larsvik from Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Infrastructure.

an opening up of the event to all marine research, not just that relating to the natural sciences,” says Malin Karlsson, who is the project manager at Sea and Society.

THE PROGRAMME focused on future

THE MARINE RESEARCH DAYS is a

recurring event which, this year, was arranged by The Swedish Society for Marine Sciences in cooperation with Sea and Society at Gothenburg University. This year’s conference had a broader perspective and was directed at both natural scientists as well as social scientists. ”We want to contribute towards

challenges and trends within the field of marine research. The principal speakers were Marie Stenseke, cultural geographer at Gothenburg University, Martin Visbeck from the Kiel Future Ocean cluster and Sverker Jagers, director of the Centre for collective action research (CeCAR) at Gothenburg University. In addition to this a large number of presentations were made concerning current research projects within the marine disciplines relating to natural sciences, as well as from the social sciences field. The most different presentation in this context was given by the literary veteran Linda Karlsson Hammarfelt from Gothenburg University. She is researching islands in the Baltic as places of refuge, and

We must change the way we talk about the sea so that we make it interesting and not merely focus on the problems.

how these are reflected in contemporary literature. ”It was a highly appreciated contribution which elevated the role of culture and the fact that the sea impacts on Mankind in so many different ways,” says Lena Viktorsson, chairperson of the Swedish Society for Marine Sciences.

Many of the presentations otherwise illustrated different types of problem with regard to, for example, the acid content of the sea, over-fishing and medicine residues in Swedish waters. In a concluding panel discussion about the challenges of the future there was a debate on how researchers communicate in respect of these questions.

Martin Visbeck from Kiel called for more marine optimism. ”People love the sea and so do we. We must change the way in which we talk about the sea so that we make it interesting and not merely focus on the problems.”

Text and Photo: ALBIN DAHLIN DECEMBER 2017 GUJOURNAL

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THE MOMENT

What: Open Week – Gothenburg Design Festival 2017 Where: The School of Design and Crafts.

When: 20–26 November.

Brief description: HDK, The School of Design and Crafts, presented nearly ninety displays, events, workshops and discussions relating to design. In the picture, Maria Sjöstrand, university lecturer at HDK at Steneby, is talking with Sara Henriksson, who is in the third year of the artistic undergraduate programme Textiles – body – room. In Dals Långed HDK also has undergraduate and masters courses in furniture design and metal forms in addition to Textiles – body – room. Photo: Johan Wingborg