Work on optimal departmental structure

In the faculty board meeting on August 31, 2023, it was decided to initiate a process to investigate optimal departmental structure. The decision in case 75/23 is formulated as follows in the protocol (translated form Norwegian):

Based on the discussion in the faculty board, the faculty management is requested to prepare a case for the next faculty board meeting with proposals for the mandate and composition of a committee to investigate suggestions for optimal unit structure with fewer units at the Faculty of Psychology.

The case statement is based on the following background:

Currently, the Faculty has a structure with five departments established in 2009, as well as two independent centers (centers with their own finances). Both the previous and current strategic plans include to consider whether the current departmental structure is most suitable concerning educational offerings, research topics, and potential areas of collaboration. Additionally, the faculty has salary and personnel resources associated with maintaining five departments. On this basis, the faculty board is invited to discuss the possible initiation of investigating optimal unit structure with fewer units at the Faculty of Psychology, including the overarching rules that should apply in such a process. The current case does not address proposals for mandates, information channels, committees, timelines, etc. - these are aspects that may be included in a faculty board case on October 19, 2023.

In the faculty board meeting on October 19, 2023 (case 85/23), it was decided to investigate optimal unit structure with fewer departments at the Faculty of Psychology. A committee was to be established with representation from all departments and the faculty administration. The composition was to include four members of the academic staff, three members of technical/administrative staff, and two students.

The committee's final mandate was determined in the faculty board meeting on 19.10.2023, and is formulated as follows in the meeting protocol (translated from Norwegian):

Based on the faculty's academic visions in the strategic plan for 2023-2030, the committee is requested to develop relevant scenarios for optimal unit structure at the faculty with fewer departments than the current five. The committee is requested to:

• Develop relevant models with two departments, relevant models with three departments, and relevant models with four departments
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each model regarding research, education, administration, space utilization, finances, and working environment
• Recommend a model

The committee is requested to provide progress reports at faculty board meetings during the process. The report is requested to be delivered by the end of March 2024.

Evaluating whether a change in departmental structure is desirable is thus beyond the scope of the committee's mandate. The committee's task is to describe various possible future models for departmental structure with fewer departments than the current five and evaluate these in light of the criteria in the mandate.

You can read the report prepared by the committee here (in Norwegian). The report was completed in March 2024. 

Photo:

Det psykologiske fakultet

The report was presented by the comittee leader during the open meeting 5.4.24 on Teams. The presentation is available here. 

After the faculty board recieved the report, it was sent for consultation to the faculty's units, the faculty administration, the faculty council for education in clinical psychology, the personell safety representative and the students at the Faculty of Psychology. The deadline is set to May 16, 2024.

The consultation letter can be found here.  

• 8.3.24, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM on Teams.
• 5.4.24, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM on Teams (invitation sent to all employees via Outlook 29.03.24)