Newsletter 66 from the Head of Department

INTERNAL AT THE INSTITUTE

We are launching a survey on well-being and the study environment
In recent years, we have had several cases with dissatisfied students, which we have dealt with internally in the relevant forums, but several stories about well-being, student life and the study environment on our programs have also been mentioned in the media.

Therefore, we in the department management have decided that it is now time for us to survey the well-being and the study environment at IOOS in a different way and see if there is a need for us to act differently and with other measures than those already in process. In the department's management, we believe that it is best to do this initially in the form of an external investigation, which involves both students and staff, so that everyone is heard. You will hear more about when and in what form the survey will take place during the autumn.

It is very important to me that we have a good study environment and that everyone who works, studies and in general moves around the institute thrives and is feeling safe.

New Network for Sustainability invites to a start-up meeting on 30 October
A new network – Network for Sustainability – has seen the light of day at Faculty of Health. The network aims to reduce the Faculty of Health's climate footprint and must function as a platform for collaboration and dialogue on sustainable solutions. The network is not just for employees who already work with sustainability – all employees are welcome to participate and share knowledge and ideas.

Professors Kari Tanderup and Lene Warner Thorup Boel from respectively The Department of Clinical Medicine and the Department of Forensic Medicine have taken the initiative for the network, which will hold a kick-off meeting for all interested parties on Wednesday 30 October at 15:00-16:30 in the Søauditorierne. Registration is required - note that the meeting will be in Danish.

At the meeting, amongst other speakers our sustainability representative Clinical Team Leader Andreas Schlott will present IOOS' existing sustainability initiatives.

The guidelines for representation and catering have been updated
There are occasional doubts about what can and cannot be done in connection with ordering catering for both internal and external meetings as a governmental workplace. Aarhus University's guidelines have been updated, and on Aarhus University's staff pages you can see the maximum financial amount limits and read about the guidelines for catering and representation. The main rule is that we, as public servants, show moderation.

Some of us must register working hours from 1 October 2024
According to new EU legislation on working time registration, employees in Danish workplaces must now register their working time. And together with the other universities in Denmark, Aarhus University follows the recommendations of the Danish Personnel and Skills Agency for how the law should be interpreted and implemented in the university sector. This means that:

• technical-administrative employees must register the total working time in line with most other groups on the Danish labour market.
• scientific staff and managers with personnel responsibility can be exempted from the requirement for time registration. You will receive an addendum to your employment certificate to this effect in your digital mailbox.

In September, you received an email about working time registration from AU HR. In addition to this, you will receive an email from your immediate manager on how you, as technical-administrative employees, must register your working hours. Please note that holidays and absences must still be registered according to normal practice.

The Working Time Registration Act was created to protect employees in the EU and is applicable throughout Europe. Regardless of whether you have to record working time or are exempt, it remains in the dialogue with your manager that a balance must be found between tasks and working hours.

Images for applications or teaching material can be downloaded from the new Aarhus University image archive
As an employee at Aarhus University, we have access to the University's extensive image archive, which has just been updated with approx. 3,500 new images from events and locations at the university. The roughly 18,000 images can be freely used for presentations, reports and the like with relevant credit to the photographer. Remember that images taken from other places on the web are often covered by copyright, and we must therefore first have permission to use them. Login to Aarhus University's image archive: galleri.au.dk.

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND TEACHING

Remember to take notes on grading in all exams
At Faculty of Health, we have been made aware that all assessors – i.e. both examiners and censors – are obliged, according to The Examination Order, to take notes on the grading of all examinations. The notes must be kept for one year and used when processing any appeals. There is freedom of method, so you decide for yourself how you take notes, but keep in mind that others than yourself can gain insight into them.

If you have any doubts or questions, contact the study managers Irene Dige or Lene Meilstrup Martinussen.

Invitation to junior researchers: "Postdoc Appreciation Day" on 11 November
The University's Junior Researcher Association together with Faculty of Health is hosting the "Postdoc Appreciation Day" event, especially for junior researchers, on Monday 11 November at 13-17 in the Mogens Zieler room (Aarhus University Conference Centre). Here, postdocs and assistant professors can e.g. hear about career development opportunities and talk to the department's career ambassadors - and each other. Associate Professor Christine Parsons gives a presentation, and then there is a panel discussion and refreshments. Registration via Conference Manager.

NEWS ABOUT NAMES

DKK 50,000 for research year student's project on social inequality in oral health
Associate Professor Irene Dige has succeeded in obtaining both a one-year research scholarship from the Danish Dental Association and an additional DKK 25,000 from the Danish Dental Employees' Organization (ATO) Research Account for dental student Karina Herholdt Petersen's research year project "How are future dentists equipped for practical efforts towards social inequality in oral health?". The funding is needed for data collection from Social Health Centers throughout Denmark in the important project. Congratulations to both Irene Dige and Karina Herholdt Petersen.

Best wishes,

Siri