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Becoming a ‘docent’ – a joint course for LUSEM and the Faculty of Social Sciences

Closeup of person reading a book. Photo.

The Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM) and the Faculty of Social Sciences offer a course for researchers planning to apply for the title of docent (associate professor/reader) in the near future.

The course is seminar-based and designed to be both inspirational and informative, providing useful knowledge about the research process and academia more broadly. Participants are also offered an intensive version of the compulsory research supervision course.

Docent is an important milestone in an academic career in Sweden. The title is an academic qualification rather than an employment position, and requirements and evaluation criteria may differ between universities and faculties. This course provides an overview of the application process and the evaluation criteria used at LUSEM and the Faculty of Social Sciences. It also addresses key aspects of academic work that are central to the docent role, including PhD supervision, grant applications, and strategies for successful publication. In addition, the course offers broader perspectives on academic careers and the expectations associated with the docent qualification.

The format is interactive, with invited presenters introducing topics that serve as a basis for group discussion. Participants also receive pedagogical credits for PhD supervision upon completion of the research supervision module. 

The target group is researchers with a PhD degree who aim to apply for the title of docent within the coming years.

Course period: Late September–November 2026
Schedule: Will be available in June or July
Course coordinators: Jonas Helgertz (LUSEM) and Mikael Johansson (Faculty of Social Sciences)
Language: English
Registration: Register for the course by filling out the form below by 31 May 2026