SDU Research Academy – What is it and what does it do?
Assistant professors and recently appointed associate professors at the University of Southern Denmark will most likely be able to join the SDU Research Academy programme from the autumn of 2024, a pilot programme which aims to implement the support for SDU researchers more naturally in their everyday work, and it has got off to a good start.
Beginning in the autumn, assistant professors and recently appointed associate professors will probably be able to sign up for the ‘SDU Research Academy’ programme, which lasts at least one year. Project Manager Ole Mathorne explains what the programme – and not the course – is all about.
- As an alternative to a three-to-six-day course with a lot of information, most of which may not be relevant to the researcher at the time, the programme we intend to develop will provide timely information, immediately applicable for the individual participant.
A programme with three main initiatives
The programme has three parts, explains Ole Mathorne:
- First and foremost, we have created a digital platform containing instructional videos where you can access knowledge, guidance and tools at any time and for any stage of your academic career. For example, tools for recruiting, for assembling and developing a research unit, or guidance and tools for creating a funding application strategy, developing and managing projects and much more, based on the ‘just in time’ principle.
- The second part is centred around a number of groups that participants are divided into based on interviews. The groups will meet approximately ten times for meetings facilitated by a consultant from the project. These are not classic experience-sharing groups; they are intended to be actual working and implementation groups where all participants face similar tasks and challenges in their work as researchers. It’s more like implementation groups where you focus on things that need to be done anyway – but in our groups, what you get is feedback, support and concrete suggestions from other skilled researchers.
- Finally, we make sure that there is support from the management for the individual researcher. This means that the head of a research unit, head of department or similar is involved and ensures the relevant local support on a day-to-day basis.
Available this autumn
As mentioned, this is a pilot project that is scheduled to be implemented as part of the daily operations at SDU from the autumn of 2024. However, the form and content of the programme is still being adjusted, for instance in terms of the learning videos, the implementation meetings and a potential certification after completing the SDU Research Academy programme.
More than 30 researchers are involved in the project phase.
It is currently not possible to sign up for the Programme, but if you have questions about it or want to be put on a waiting list, please contact Ole Mathorne at researchacademy@sdu.dk