Report release: The role of head of department and the handling of discrimination cases at Uppsala University

Today, Uppsala Student Union releases the report "The role of the head of department and the handling of discrimination cases at Uppsala University". The purpose of the report is to examine the role of the head of department with a focus on how heads of department at Uppsala University experience the handling of discrimination cases involving students and doctoral students. Our hope with this report is to highlight challenges and needs as well as to be a useful basis in Uppsala Student Union for students' and doctoral students' work environment and rights to be safeguarded.

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The report touches on issues such as training, support, being peer-elected, room for maneuver and handling difficult cases related to students and doctoral students. The role of Head of Department is often described as challenging, as a wide variety of tasks are combined with own research, teaching or supervision. Discrimination cases must be handled urgently and the heads of department are then forced to reprioritize everything. Many heads of department also experience difficulties in reaching out to students and doctoral students and creating a sense of security for them to seek support before things have gone too far. There are also feelings of powerlessness in the face of employees who discriminate or offend others, without any action being taken.

The report states that the work environment, training and conditions for heads of department need to be improved to ensure that they can deal with work environment and discrimination issues in a legally secure manner and that students and doctoral students receive the help they need.

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Uppsala Student Union's proposal for action:

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• That it should be a requirement that heads of department have completed the head of department program before taking up their position
• Further develop the Head of Department program to include more training on how to deal with students and PhD students in difficult cases, such as discrimination cases
• That the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course or equivalent is mandatory for Heads of Department
• Training of heads of department on student engagement policies and guidance for student engagement
• Assessing and addressing risks of the head of department role with a focus on consequences of collegial managers
• To investigate the mandate and scope of action of heads of department to prevent discrimination and ensure a good working environment for students, doctoral students and staff
• Continue to investigate and address the work environment and workload of heads of department to avoid harm to students and doctoral students
• To ensure student representation in the nomination committee to ensure that the Higher Education Ordinance is followed and that students have influence over the selection of the head of department throughout the process
• To ensure that students are further included in the systematic work environment management by enabling student representation in the work environment management
• Ensuring that all students and doctoral candidates are informed about the prefects, their role and how to proceed if they experience discrimination, sexual harassment or victimization
• Strengthen heads of department's knowledge of doctoral students' rights and regulations related to doctoral students
• Establish a consultative and supportive forum for heads of faculties or departments to discuss difficult issues and tasks
• Implement the mentoring program or similar support for heads of department as an option for all new heads of department

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Read the full report here!

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