HoD News - 14 October 2022

Dear all,

Meeting with the dean

I would like to thank you for your participation in the meeting with the dean on 6 October. Thanks for your questions. The dean commented on the financial situation of Aarhus BSS and the Department and the challenges that we foresee. So far, the 2023 budget of Aarhus BSS has been submitted for approval to the AU Board, who will meet in December 2022. We have to await this process and the Board’s approval and its suggestions before any concrete solutions and actions can be considered.

Job openings

As you know, Aarhus University has made a partial hiring freeze for the rest of this year. Also during 2023, ECON will have an effective freeze of new hirings, except for job openings or extensions that are funded by external funds. 

Thus, within the above restrictions, job-openings are expected to be announced in January 2023.

The decision about openings at the full professor level (business economics) will be postponed until the summer 2023.

It is very important for me to stress that despite the current budget challenges it is of utmost importance for our Department that we can ensure the growth layer and the recruitment dynamics, including promotions and regular job openings, at all position levels. I see the current situation as a temporary challenge which for a while will restrict our maneuver room. However, let me again underscore that I do see this as a temporary state, and a solution will be found when looking ahead. 

Travel and climate

Earlier this year, a new AU travel policy was in consultation, and the revised version of the travel policy has now been approved by the senior management team. It explicitly encourages staff to think about their own travel habits and reconsider the forms of travel they use in order to contribute to achieving the University’s climate goals.

The Covid-19 pandemic has helped us identify opportunities to reduce travel associated with some of our activities. Considering both the financial and environmental impact of our travel habits, I encourage everyone at the Department, both travellers and travel bookers, to have a closer look at the details of this new policy summarised here: AU travel policy

I wish you all a very nice autumn break.

Niels