The Faculty of Social Sciences will gradually develop towards fewer units over the next six years, according to a policy decision from 2023. After initial preparatory work, it is now time for the first changes to take place at the end of the year:
- The Department of Communication will be established. The department will consist of the subjects of strategic communication, media and communication, and journalism.
- The Department of Sociology and the Department of Gender Studies will merge. The department will initially be organized into three divisions; Gender Studies, Social Anthropology and Sociology.
Department of Communication
Intensive work is now underway to finalise preparations for the new Department of Communication. This includes completing a new joint budget and preparing technical system changes.
As there are many public holidays around the turn of the year, many of the changes to IT systems will take place a week into the new year. Preparations have been made to move all staff to the new organisation in Primula and Lucat on 7 January. The new website iko.lu.se will be launched the next day, 8 January.
There will be no changes when it comes to education, except that the journalism programme changes faculty from Humanities & Theology to Social Sciences and thus get a new programme code.
“Many of the staff have been involved in the preparations and have participated in various working groups to get the new IKO up and running”, says Tobias Linné, head of the current Department of Media and Communication. “We also had a joint staff day in November where we discussed the challenges and opportunities of the new department. We have also had a lot of social activities, as we saw it as important to have the opportunity to get to know each other better and have fun together.”
The media and communication scientists will continue to teach and work at SOL during the spring semester and will move to the building Gamla Polikliniken in the Paradis area for the autumn semester. Prior to occupancy, the premises will undergo a light renovation. The Campus Development Project will, together with a working group from the newly formed department, look at how the new premises can best be used to create a good mix of regular and flexible workplaces as well as meeting places.
Department of Sociology – three subjects, one building
At the turn of the year, the Department of Gender Studies will become a division within the Department of Sociology, alongside the Divisions of Social Anthropology and Sociology. The preparations for the merger include reviewing all system technical aspects so that the transition will take place as smoothly as possible.
“We have also set up a committee with representatives from the various disciplines that will continue to work on issues related to the merger and meet regularly with the department management. Among other things, the committee will make suggestions for possible collaborations in teaching and research, as well as social activities that can benefit the merger," says Magnus.”
Courses and programmes will not be affected by the merger. Gender Studies, Social Anthropology and Sociology will all remain as main fields of study.
The website genus.lu.se will remain initially, but the information will be moved to the Department of Sociology's website in 2025.
“Working on our joint organisation wont't stop at the end of the year, but rather it will be intensified over the coming year," says Magnus Karlsson.
Read more about the development of the organisation towards fewer and larger units