Together we can prevent stress at our workplace
The leadership is responsible for preventing stress, but we must work together to change our culture for the better
Dear staff
What a start to 2023 - what a New Year's speech from the Prime Minister. I worry that it will be a difficult year for the universities. The media is overflowing with critical remarks about the New Year's speech.
I have yet to see a university or business leader who supports the idea of reducing master's programmes from 2 years to 1 year. On the contrary, great concern is expressed about a deterioration in the level of knowledge, which is crucial for development in a country like Denmark.
In addition, universities' finances are already under pressure, and several universities are announcing the need to reduce expenses.
We are also in the process at SDU and our faculty, where we must find reductions corresponding to a disposition restriction of 1.5%, which was decided by SDU's board in December. I expect that we can find reductions, e.g. by postponing hiring and the increased external turnover ensures higher income. We will continuously provide information here in the newsletter and at the institutes.
I realize that everyone is very busy, but I would like to point out two important events here in January.
The first event is the New Year's reception on 18 January, where our new vice-chancellor for studies Helle Waagepetersen will talk about her thoughts about education at SDU. Vice-dean Poul Nielsen and I will give our perspectives for 2023. This will not be an empty talk, but rather about current plans that will be important to all of us.
On 31 January, Imran Rashid will give a presentation on the prevention of stress. The presentation has been developed in dialogue with our working environment committee based on results from our APV. The presentation will thus address challenges at the faculty.
It is not about the individual, but about our shared culture - and how we can prevent stress together. If we do not work together, we risk that the individual colleague will have to bear the burden alone. This must not happen.
Based on his extensive experience and his work with stress prevention, doctor and author Imran Rashid will equip us to prevent stress in the future.
Marianne Holmer, dean