The school’s research is characterised by great and vital diversity: a wide range of research fields and practices, from individual researchers with a significant standard of research to agenda-setting single- and cross-disciplinary groups, members of national and international networks, basic funding and external funding as well as basic research and applied research.

The organisation of research must leave room for and acknowledge the diversity that characterises the school’s research practices and fields of research. At the same time, the organisation must contribute to realising the school’s strategic goals.

One of the main objectives involves helping researchers to organise themselves in a way which is perceived as relevant and meaningful, and which contributes to the school’s overall development and cohesion. In extension of this point, the organisation described here should be regarded as a pragmatic compromise which seeks to ensure a balance between transparency and flexibility, between mono-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary wishes, and between consideration of the freedom of individual researchers/departments and the need for strategic management of the school’s research.

Ambitions and basic elements

The way in which research is organised at the School of Communication and Culture will support

• The freedom, diversity, quality and impact of the school’s research.
• The active management of the school’s researchers, including feedback at all career stages – for instance in relation to publications, applications and career planning.
• The wellbeing of our researchers, by promoting opportunities for joining meaningful and cohesive working/ research communities with both national and international dimensions.
• Opportunities for the dynamic development of both mono- and cross-disciplinary research environments with both local and external partners.
• Effective, transparent and flexible collaborative interfaces in relation to research at the school.
• Opportunities for the representation of researchers and research environments on relevant committees at the school.
• The achievement of the school’s research objectives, as they are described in the school strategy.
• The ability to make priorities in relation to current research agendas and research policy agendas.

The way the school is organised is based on four core elements which are described in turn below:

• research programmes
• research units
• research centres
• a research committee

This structure is supported and developed by the deputy head of school for research and the school’s research consultant. In collaboration with the research consultant and research programmes, the deputy head of school will take the initiative to launch relevant, cross-disciplinary activities such as workshops designed for junior researchers and an annual seminar involving research programme directors and heads of department. They will also offer opportunities for feedback and meetings to welcome the school’s researchers.