HoD News - 9 September 2022

Dear all,

I hope you have all had a good start to the new semester. Despite the continuing challenges for the University, communicated by the senior management last week, I have been looking forward to seeing staff and students on campus Fuglesangs Allé again.

The steps taken to reduce costs, including the partial hiring freeze, have been communicated by the dean (hiring freeze at AU). Even though this hiring freeze so far applies until the end of this year, my expectation is that it will have consequences for the 2023 budgets as well. As listed in the dean’s communications, positions that are financed by external grants will still be advertised, and I also expect that job openings at all levels will be advertised as planned in November/December. I want to emphasize that the hiring freeze is not a general promotion freeze, and the openings mentioned should be seen in this light. Notwithstanding, there may be positions we need to fill with the approval of the dean in order to solve basic teaching coverage in particular.  

As mentioned in previous newsletters, it is essential that we continue to show reticence and keep operating expenses at a minimum. This applies especially to research activities (travel, conference expenses, but also regarding computing equipment and other operating expenses) that external funding does not cover. The recent budget revision, ØR3, shows a slight deterioration of the accounts mainly due to external factors. I would like to acknowledge your contributions to show reticence regarding the accounts that we can actually control by our actions.

Current grant holders at the Department have been asked to confirm the financial report of their externally financed research project before 15 September. In this connection, I ask you to consider whether unused operating expenses can be transferred into salary expenses. Please contact your project finance administrator for more information.  

Initiatives for energy saving

The Government has just made it mandatory for many public buildings to turn down the thermostats to 19 degrees Celsius, and following the message about the precipitous increase in the University’s electricity costs (link), many employees have forwarded ideas and suggestions on how to save energy on campus. BSS Building Services is currently working on different initiatives, and we will of course communicate the outcome of these when implemented.

Dean’s visit in October

The Dean of Aarhus BBS will visit the Department on 6 October. I hope that many of you have the time to attend the meeting – please remember to register via this link.

I wish you all a nice weekend.

Niels