Dear all,

Last Friday, May 8, our two PhD administrators, Anne Ebdrup and Lene Hagbert Hansen, moved from building 2 to offices in RUC HR in building 3.2. The move is a first step in the transition towards a shared RUC PhD-administration. Although Anne and Lene have moved offices, they will still be handling PhD-administration tasks related to IMT, and you can therefore still contact them if you need assistance until further notice.  

 

As of April 1, the APV-action plan is finished, and we are now in the process implementing the action plan. A key action will be the discussion of the ‘tone of communication’ and ‘local/immediate management’. To assist us in a further mapping of issues and experiences related to the two key themes, we have reached out to the consultancy house FLOK, and they will conduct a series of employee workshops for IMT-employees after the summer holidays. More information will follow soon.  

 

On a related note: IMT has implemented English as official language alongside Danish. That means that if there are non-Danish speakers present at a meeting, we speak English. Danish speakers that are not comfortable with English may still speak Danish - and it is then the task of the moderator of the meeting to translate from Danish to English. Written communication from the Head of Department and Vice-dean for Education will generally be in English - if there are non-Danish speakers on the receiving end. 

 

Best regards

Peter Kjær

 

 

Monday, 11 May was the day when the educational administrative staff were presented with the new organisation of the future educational administration, as well as their own placement and future tasks. The overall impression is that the new organisation has been well received, and that the educational staff can all see themselves in the roles they have been assigned.

 

As of 1 June, the personnel administrative management will transfer from IMT to the new unit manager. However, the tasks currently handled by each employee will remain with them until otherwise agreed. The entire group will continue to be physically located as usual in Building 02 until a relocation is announced. This is expected to be no earlier than September.

 

Although the new organisation has been underway for some time, and even though there is overall satisfaction with the placements, it is still important that we all remain aware that this is a special period in which many things remain unclear for them. New tasks must be developed, and previous tasks must be handed over through a longer process. This may create cross-pressures that we must all help the employees manage. Everyone is encouraged to show consideration and understanding. 

 

After being paused for several months, the work on the Master’s reform resumed with a kick-off on 28 April. A new timeline was presented, which means that all new and adjusted programmes are to be ready for admission in 2028. This provides a bit more breathing room in the process.

 

For some programmes, the rector’s cross-reading has resulted in new feedback and requirements for follow-up before the summer holidays. At IMT, this especially  affects Social Work, Mental Health, and Digital Transformation.

 

The work on developing Social Work as well as the future placement of the programme will move to ISE. The rector’s feedback requires that the programme be developed in a way that aligns more closely with the existing programme at AAU (which is closing), and that it strengthens the content related to law and public administration. Several members of the working group will be replaced; Marta Padovan-Özdemir will continue in the group.

 

The working group for Mental Health has been tasked with elaborating and clarifying the purpose and relevance of the programme before it can proceed to phase 2 of the process, where the goal is to prepare the application for special approval with a deadline in February 2027. The working group will continue as before.

 

The Digital Transformation programme must work on its distinction from a social science–oriented cand.merc. programme in Data and Management (working title). The programmes must be distinctly different, but also make use of potential synergies between them in the future. The working groups will meet and align their boundaries before the summer holidays.

 

Other programmes and working groups have minor adjustments in feedback and terms of reference. The work is supported by the familiar study board secretaries.

 

The adjusted terms of reference and comments on the deliverables from round 1 (checklists), as well as new terms of reference, have been placed in the working groups’ Teams folders.

 

After three years, the Interreg supported Fehmarn BELT Plan & Network Initiative is officially coming to an end. With the final conference held a few weeks ago and the recent publication of the book „Visioner fra Femern Bælt-regionen / Visionen aus der FehmarnbeltRegion“, only a few final steps remain before the  project in cooperation with Roskilde University, TH Lübeck and Rural Agency is fully wrapped up. 

 

 

It was a pleasure to see the entire BELT network come together one last time in Sakskøbing in late March. The one-day conference on Lolland was shaped by inspring keynotes, panel discussions and exchanges on how the project’s ideas and collaborations might continue in the future. The successful event brought representatives from the various regions of south-east Denmark and northern Germany even closer together and concluded with a highlight: the launch of the bilingual book „Visioner fra Femern Bæltregionen / Visionen aus der FehmarnbeltRegion“. The publication brings together perspectives and insights from network trips, field visits and meetings with citizens and planners conducted during the three-year research journey.

 

The book highlights how the large-scale Fehmarn Belt tunnel project between Denmark and Germany is experienced locally, including both concerns and emerging opportunities. These are perspectives that are often overlooked when planning takes place at the European or national level.

 

One example is the project 45halvtres, which demonstrates how existing infrastructure - in the form of former grain silos in Stubbekøbing - can be transformed into new cultural spaces, fostering social connections and local initiatives. In this context, the upcoming Fehmarn Belt link may contribute to a growing momentum for cultural initiatives engaging with the region.

 

Similar examples can be found on the island of Møn, where questions of settlement and local identity arise in connection with the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, or in Bad Schwartau, where traffic and mobility patterns are a key concern for residents as the new infrastructure is established.

 

The book makes it clear that there is no single perspective on how the region will - or should - develop in the future. Some viewpoints contrast with each other, while others overlap. However, it is already evident that the construction project is having a profound impact on the region in many ways.

 

For those interested, the book is already available as a digital version in the RUC Library.

 

Stay updated on new documents and guidelines
Remember to regularly check the IMT intranet under

 

Workplace assessment (APV) action plan
IMT’s local work environment committee (LAU) has now completed the workplace assessment (APV) action plan as of 1 April. Work on following up on the action plan is now underway, and the first major step, as outlined in the plan, is that the consultancy firm FLOK will help us take a deeper look at some of the issues identified in the APV.

 

You will be invited as soon as possible to participate in workshops and interviews after the summer break. Participation will be voluntary, and we hope that many of you will make yourselves available, so we have the best possible chance of addressing the work environment issues highlighted in the APV. More information will follow.

 

If you need to order catering, it is important that you use the link or QR code below. This will direct you to a form that must be completed. We must receive your order no later than 5 working days before the desired delivery date.

 

IMT Service can be contacted via email at imt-service@ruc.dk or by phone at +45 6195 1305.

 

We are available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 08:00 to 11:30, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 08:00 to 13:00

 

Kind regards,

Anne-Mette & Lisa

With regard to Part 1, the completion of the surrounding landscape is proceeding according to the latest revised plan prepared by Hoffmann. The updated design outlines the final development of the outdoor campus environment in the area around the IMT buildings.

 

May 21	MOSPUS research group seminar   Heidi Svenningsen Kajita (Copenhagen University) will present on 'The Messy Archives of Welfare Repair’. With reference to the Horizon Europe project INNATURE (2025-29), this talk builds on Kajita’s long experience of working with residents’ critical engagement with urban planning and design in welfare-state housing areas to explore the value of imaginary, open-ended and situated arts practice in new living futures.   Time: 12.15-13.15 Location: 02.1.123     All very welcome. For more information click here or write to dpinder@ruc.dk
May 22	CSS -Lunch  Niklas Chimirri (IMT) about "Mod en omsorgsfuld udforskning af hverdagslivet i antropocæne tider"  Time: 12:00-13:00   Registration with Centre Director Katia Dupret Read more about participation principles and  the spring programme here...
May 27	CSS -Lunch  Hjalte Betak (IKH) about "Vidensarbejde og kooperativ platformsøkonomi inden for de planetære grænser!"  Time: 12:00-13:00   Registration with Centre Director Katia Dupret Read more about participation principles and  the spring programme here...
June 11	Staff meeting Presentation from Director of Welfare in Køge Municipality, Jakob Lundberg. During our staff meeting, we will be visited by Jakob Bigum Lundberg, who is the Director of Welfare in Køge Municipality. He will give a presentation on “reform storm in the public sector”. This will relate to many of the institute’s subject areas and will hopefully be something many of you can benefit from.  Time: 13:00-14:30 Location: 03.1-s03
June 19	IMT Summer Seminar IMT will hold its summer seminar for all staff, featuring coffee, cake, an exciting presentation on AI and research, and dinner in the courtyard of building 02. You will soon receive a registration link and more information. Please mark your calendars already now. Time: 13:00-17:00