Senior Collaboration Lecturer - career path and new university tool for collaboration, extension and innovation

Purpose and goal

The aim of the project was to develop new tools for interaction of extension specialist lecturers in the green sector, with the education sector, with SLU´s students and PhD-students as well as creating international frames of reference and contact network for collaboration. Extension specialists should be known at other Swedish universities and their role in a SLU-internal collaboration platform should be made clear. All goals, with one exception, are met (SLUPartnerskap). This initiative has not had time to be realized during the period of this project but will be in the near future.

Expected results and effects

A large number of activities have been carried out within the project which led to improved knowledge about the extension specialist within the green sectors. Further collaborations has been initiated, some ongoing, and others to be realized in 2016 and 2017. The question of the academic career merits of extension have received great attention from many Swedish universities through the KLOSS-project. Extension specialists are one good example of how your career can benefit from collaboration. At SLU, further actions will be taken to enhance the merit of extension for researchers.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has had a focus on performing different activities with various parts of the Community (school, public, business and other universities). Each extension specialist has been involved in several subprojects which enabled their own extension work to be developed, but also enhanced good relations with colleagues over the entire University and creation of new and unexpected collaborations. Project results and reflections have been discussed at a number of common meetings which helped to create an overall picture of the project for all participants.