The new Department of Communication has now been in place for four months. What has happened since the start of the year?
"We have been working hard to set up the new organisation - from deciding how to organise the work of the administration to deciding which management teams and tasks we'll have in the new department. We have also started to work together 'for real', with people from the old departments working together on teaching and exciting new research projects, for example."
What is happening now?
"At the moment we are preparing for our move to new premises in the Paradis area and the building Gamla polikliniken. There’s is a lot of practical work to be done - packing up all the old stuff, thinking about how we are going to use the rooms in our new building, what technical equipment we need, how we can create a comfortable and welcoming environment for staff, what kind of coffee machine we want in the staff room etc."
Can you already see any benefits from the merger?
"The biggest benefit is undoubtely all the new colleagues we have gained through the merger! It's been so stimulating and inspiring to meet people we haven't worked with much before, discover that we have similar interests and plan new projects together.
The merger has been a real boost for the institution, both socially and intellectually. "
What have been the biggest challenges so far?
"The biggest challenge is probably to have time for all the normal activities that we should be doing as a university department, while we are packing and moving and building a new organisational structure. Another challenge has been to review all the internal procedures of the previous departments to harmonise them and ensure that staff and students are treated equally and under the same conditions."