AARHUS UNIVERSITY H E A L T H Memo Revised May/August 2014 Joint positions Between Health, AU and public and private partners in the healthcare sector 1. Why joint positions? Health figures in more and more partnerships and is thus experiencing a growing interest in the public healthcare system and private sector business and industry in establishing joint positions. The faculty views this as a positive development and will in future enter into additional agreements in which a member of staff at Health also figures in an situation involving employment, function and tasks, with one or more external partner such as e.g. hospitals, university colleges, municipalities and private companies. Page 1/16 Agreements on joint positions with one or more external partners are an important instrument for supporting Health's commitment to knowledge exchange with society in general and creating coherence between basic research, clinical and other practicecentred research, teaching, treatment and the development of the health science. In addition, it is an important initiative in the range of career paths and opportunities, which Health wishes to offer employees at all levels. This memo describes the framework in purely position-related terms at Health. The memo does not therefore relate to all of the other specific aspects of the joint positions. In all cases the organisational conditions, division of responsibilities, competence development and financing are additionally agreed between the parties as described in item 4. 2. General terms and conditions The purpose of this memo is to describe the many opportunities that exist for joint positions, which can contribute to strengthening interaction and thus also competences and the knowledge base in the healthcare sector. The memo must, however, also inform Health's
external partners on the special conditions that are applicable for academic positions, including e.g. qualification requirements in connection employment, requirements for tasks and functions, qualification development in the positions, length of employment and extensions, together with career paths. Page 2/16 Part of the general terms and conditions for Health is that joint positions must be in accordance with the laws and circulars which apply to Aarhus University and to employment at the university, including (insert links) University Act Aarhus University By-laws The Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities Consolidation Act on Fixed-Term Employment Circular on the agreement on part-time lecturers at universities etc. The PhD Order Circular on the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (2007) and including the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (2013) The circular and memo on the job structure for academic staff specifies the framework for the appointment of members of academic staff and the general requirements state that all members of the academic staff should have research, research-based teaching/supervision and knowledge exchange with society in general as core tasks. The scope and weighting of these core tasks can, however, vary according to the specific position. In connection with the appointment of a member of academic staff at the university, the university is responsible for the job posting and assessment of the academic and/or scientific qualifications in relation to the agreed profile of tasks, and for carrying this out in agreement with the external partner. The Consolidation Act on Fixed-Term Employment contains special provisions regarding researchers and teaching staff in Section 5, subsection 2. Here it is determined that fixed-term appointments cannot be renewed more than twice, such that there are a total of three periods of employment. This normally means that the researchers/teaching staff appointed cannot subsequently be employed on a fixedterm for further periods in the same position. One further recommendation in the job structure for the management at the universities is to highlight the career perspectives for the academic staff, including in particular employees in fixed-term positions, by e.g. discussing of career opportunities with the individual employee.
3. Employment Page 3/16 The term joint position is used for several types of employment situations when an external partner finances all or parts of a position and where there is, in connection with this, an agreement with the external partner regarding the content of the position. In some cases an academic part-time position is chosen, in which the person who is qualified and enters into a part-time position, is assumed to have a supplementary parttime position with the partner to be able to fulfil the purpose (of the position), though without this being a formal prerequisite for the construction. In such situations, Health does not generally wish to have part-time positions below twenty per cent. Virtually all types of academic positions can come into play here. In other cases (see also the descriptions below), an academic full-time or part-time appointment presupposes that the person being appointed also has a position with patient treatment or similar. The combination is therefore necessary. This applies to e.g. the position of clinical professor. A joint position is also when a PhD student is enrolled as a PhD student at AU and employed wholly or partly at the university, fully or partially financed by an external partner. 4. Agreements on joint positions Joint positions are created to accommodate the wishes of all involved partners. The possibility of realising any common goals which the partners have agreed to achieve is thus also supported. 1 Agreements on joint positions with Health should describe the relevant specific terms and conditions relating to the appointment, including 1. The background and the purpose of advertising the position as a joint position, including the value it adds for the partners and the synergy it provides in relation to achieving common goals. 2. Legal basis and organisational terms and conditions for the position, including the employment procedure, see section 6. 3. Physical location and contents of the position, including a description of the position s functions and tasks and how the core activities at Health are weighted. 4. Competence development in the position with a view to the academic and other career opportunities. 1 See e.g. cooperation agreements between Aarhus University and the Central Denmark Region (insert links)
5. Financing which covers payroll costs and other expenses such as office Page 4/16 class, travel, participation in congresses and courses. 5. Academic positions and career paths Where appropriate, joint positions with Health may be established with types of positions that do are not aimed only at a university career. In connection with the establishment of sustained and growing environments it will, however, be expedient to be aware of the career levels in the job structure. The main elements of a general academic career path (PhD, assistant professor, associate professor and professor) are outlined below. The description provides a very general outline. In addition, there is a description of the general opportunities for an academic career in combination with employment in the healthcare sector. 5.1. General academic career path Master's degree programme PhD Assistant professor Associate professor Professor The general academic career path begins after a final examination for the Master s degree with a three-year PhD programme. Enrolment in the PhD research programme can also take place in connection with the Master's degree programme prior to obtaining the Master's degree. Once the PhD degree has been obtained, it is possible to apply for an assistant professorship and subsequently for an associate professorship, which is as a rule a permanent academic position at one of the faculty s departments. It is also possible to be employed for a six-year tenure track from assistant professor to associate professor, see the description of positions at assistant professor level below. If an associate professor after a number of years lives up to the special academic requirements for a professorship, there is the opportunity of applying for a permanent or fixed-term professorship or a fixed-term professorship with special responsibilities (MSO). In the structure of academic staff at universities a distinction is made between principal positions and special positions. The principal positions form a continuous career path and consist of assistant professor/researcher, associate professor/senior researcher, professor with special responsibilities (MSO) and professor. Special positions are not included in the coherent career path and are utilised by the universities as required.
Medical doctors may be employed in both principal positions and special positions. The special clinical positions are used when the main employment is outside the university. Page 5/16 5.2. Academic career in combination with employment in the healthcare sector For medical doctors in the clinical/practically-orientated area, clinical training and further education and training are often central factors, but there are additional opportunities to integrate/combining this path with the academic career path. The positions in the clinical area are normally closely associated with patient treatment e.g. such as positions in combination between Health and a department in a hospital. These positions are, however, not reserved for the hospitals or medical doctors. For instance, it is possible to combine a PhD degree programme with a medical doctor s main speciality training position as part of the medical specialist training. It will normally be a six-year position, in which the PhD degree programme takes three years and the main speciality training takes three years instead of the normal four years. If employee has achieved the academic qualifications, the medical specialist position may be combined with a clinical associate professorship, see more about this position below. There is close collaboration between Health and the Central Denmark Region at all management levels and there are a number of career positions at the university, which correspond to career positions in the management structure at the hospitals. Some of these career positions are covered by job structures for academic staff at universities, such as e.g. professor and clinical professor, in so far as these may be regarded as research directors. Others have arisen through special agreements between Health and the Central Denmark Region at Aarhus University Hospital, such as e.g. professor, centre chair, professor, department chair, semester-coordinating professor and academic coordinator. For these types of positions see Agreement on professors at the Aarhus hospitals in Aarhus University Hospital (insert links). 6. Job types and terms of employment 6.1 Criteria regarding assessments In connection with the appointment of academic staff there will often be a requirement for a positive assessment of the candidate's abilities in relation to performing in the relevant position. The requirements for assessment are stated in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities (insert links): Section 4. The university determines the rules for the academic assessment of applicants for academic positions. Subsection 2 The academic assessment must decide whether the applicants possess the required academic qualifications within research, teaching, communication, etc., as prescribed by the job structure, and whether they meet any other qualification
requirements specified in the job advertisement. A non-prioritised, substantiated, written assessment of the applicants qualifications must be submitted to the rector. If there are any differences of opinion between the assessors, these must be stated in the assessment. Page 6/16 Rules for the assessment of part-time lecturers are described in the Circular on the Agreement on Part-time Lecturers at Danish universities (insert links). This may be in the form of several different levels of assessment and within the same job category there may be a difference in the scope of the assessment, depending on the duration of the appointment (more or less than one, an extension etc.). 6.2 Qualification requirements etc. in the job structure Positions below assistant professor level PhD fellow Industrial PhD fellowship An Industrial PhD is a three-year PhD project with a business orientation, where the student is employed in a private company, while at the same time being enrolled at a university. Furthermore, both private and public third parties may be associated with the project. The company receives a salary subsidy from the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. Correspondingly, the university also receives a subsidy from the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation to cover supervision and other expenses associated with enrolment. The PhD student's time is evenly distributed between the company and the university and both the university and the company provide supervision. Public-sector industrial PhD In connection with a public-sector industrial PhD, one or more public organisations are included in an industrial PhD project. If special funds are allocated to this, public-sector organisations will be able to apply for funding for projects from the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation during specified application rounds. If a subsidy is granted, the project must not take place within a field of study where the research institution already has fixed regular research activities. That is to say, that it is not possible to have a public-sector industrial PhD at Health within ordinary health science research, but rather in e.g. research into organisation, workflows etc. Co-financed PhD fellowships In future it is expected that the PhD programme will support all qualified PhD students with a certain level of co-financing (one-third of the payroll costs), where the remaining part is
financed by the external party. The PhD student may be employed at the university, and then the grant is transferred to the university. In addition, a tuition fee must be allowed for. Page 7/16 Part-time enrolment A PhD student may be enrolled (and employed) on a part-time basis, while he/she in addition works part-time or is self-employed. An example of this may be a dentist, who works two days a week in a clinic in addition to the PhD programme during the entire or part of the enrolment. Research Assistant Appointment as a research assistant is usually a short-term appointment. The appointment is typically either a prelude/preparation for a PhD degree programme, or it is used in the period after a completed but as yet not defended PhD degree programme prior to any subsequent appointment as assistant professor or similar. The main duties and responsibilities of the position are research and/or teaching. To be employed as a research assistant, a candidate must have a relevant education at Master's degree level. A person may be employed as a research assistant for a maximum of three years. An assessment is required, cf. the internal guidelines for the composition of assessment committees at Health in accordance with AU's internal framework agreement of 9 October 2013. The employment may include a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Teaching assistant The position as teaching assistant is a part-time position with a view to independently undertaking teaching assignments that are normally elementary in character or teaching which supplements teaching undertaken by assistant professors, associate professors or full professors. The assistant lecturer undertakes teaching within the subject according to the institution's requirements. The teaching assistants must have special permission to act as an examiner. These positions are filled for a period of up to three years. Re-employment is possible on the condition that it does not conflict with the legislation concerning fixed-term employment, cf.
above. The actual number of working hours is fixed for each semester within the agreed framework. Page 8/16 The qualification requirement is Master s degree level. Part-time lecturer Appointment as part-time lecturer is a part-time appointment with hourly pay. The appointment may either be fixed-term or permanent. The number of hours will be specified for each semester and may vary over the period of employment. The duties and responsibilities of the position are independent teaching, including holding exams. Appointment as a part-time lecturer requires a relevant Master's degree level with additional relevant qualifications such as e.g. from an area of practice. At the time of employment/extension, an evaluation must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Furthermore, in accordance with the collective agreement, it is required that a minimum payment for one hundred classroom hours per academic year is made. Positions at assistant professor level The positions at assistant professor level comprise postdoc and assistant professor/researcher. Pursuant to the new job structure of 1 September 2013, postdoc has become a separate position, which is not part of the academic career path. Postdoc (postdoctoral fellow) Employment as a postdoc is a fixed-term appointment that can be either full-time or part-time. The duties and responsibilities of the position predominately comprise research and, to a lesser extent, teaching. As the focus of the position is not educational skills upgrading, a position as postdoc does not in itself provide access to a future appointment as associate professor. The position can qualify an applicant for a career in the private sector or other sectors outside the university. Appointment as a postdoc may also qualify an applicant for a subsequent appointment as assistant professor/researcher.
Employment as postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level, which in practice means a completed PhD degree programme. Page 9/16 A person may be employed as a postdoc for a maximum of four-years at the same institution. At the time of employment/extension, an evaluation must be undertaken and the total employment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Assistant Professor Appointment as assistant professor normally takes place with a view to subsequent appointment as associate professor, which is why, in addition to research, the position also focuses on the development of teaching competences. A position as assistant professor may be filled for a limited period of up to four years, though in the clinical area, up to five years. The appointment can be both full-time and part-time. Successive fixed-term appointments may take place, but a person may have a maximum of eight years employment as assistant professor. An assistant professor may similarly be appointed as a permanent position through the tenure track programme in which the employee will transition to tenure as associate professor/senior researcher after a maximum of 6 years. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly research (including a requirement of publication/scientific communication) and research-based teaching (including exam obligations). Supervision and training in university pedagogy are included in the position. Employment as assistant professor requires academic qualifications at PhD level, which in practice means a completed PhD degree programme. At the time of employment/extension, an evaluation must be undertaken and the total employment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Researcher The position as a researcher is most commonly used for research-based public sector consultancy. Appointment a researcher is fixed-term employment that can be either full-time or part-time. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly research (including a requirement of publication/scientific communication), public sector consultancy and, to a lesser extent, teaching. Supervision is provided as well as the opportunity for educational upgrading.
Appointment as a researcher requires academic qualifications at PhD level, which in practice means a completed PhD degree programme. Page 10/16 The maximum length of employment as a researcher is four years (though in the clinical area it is five years) and the employment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. An assessment must be carried out at the time of appointment/extension. Positions at associate professor level Associate professor Appointment as an associate professor can be either full-time or part-time. The appointment can be either permanent or fixed-term. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly research (including a requirement of publication/scientific communication) and research-based teaching (including exam obligations). Additionally, relevant tasks may be knowledge exchange with society in general, research management, supervision of student projects etc. Qualification requirements for appointment as associate professor are assistant professor/researcher level or other qualifications. It is a condition that the applicant has received supervision and educational upgrading, as well as received a positive written assessment of teaching qualifications. Relevant qualification requirements must be stated in the job advertisement. At the time of employment/extension, an evaluation must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Senior researcher The position as a senior researcher is most commonly used for research-based public sector consultancy. Appointment as senior researcher or senior scientist can be either full-time or part-time. The appointment can be either permanent or fixed-term. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly research (including a requirement of publication/scientific communication), research-based public sector consultancy and, to a lesser extent, teaching. Additionally, relevant tasks may be knowledge exchange with society in general, research management, supervision of student projects etc. Appointment as a senior researcher presupposes research qualifications achieved through satisfactorily completed assistant professor/researcher employment, but also other qualifications
may be considered. Relevant qualification requirements must be stated in the job Page 11/16 advertisement. At the time of employment/extension, an assessment must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Positions at professor level Professor Appointment as professor can be either full-time of part-time. The appointment will typically be permanent, though in rare cases it may be for fixed-term. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly research (including a requirement of publication/scientific communication) and research-based teaching (including exam obligations). Additional requirements can be research-based public sector consultancy, while other relevant tasks may be knowledge exchange with society in general, research leadership and supervision of student projects etc. Appointment as a professor requires a high level of original academic production at international level, as well as documented teaching, supervision of student projects, development of the field of study etc. and also relevant management skills. Relevant qualification requirements must be stated in the job advertisement. At the time of employment/extension, an assessment must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Professor with special responsibilities (MSO) Employment as professor with special responsibilities is a fixed-term employment of between three and eight years. There is a possibility of extension, but the total period of employment may not exceed eight years. Professor with special responsibilities (MSO) is normally a position created for particularly talented younger researchers, preferably for the completion of specific research projects. After the expiry of the period of employment, the person in question transfers to a position as associate professor (typically the position that the person in question held prior to the appointment as professor with special responsibilities (MSO)). The position s employment requirements and tasks are like those of an ordinary professorship, though considerable emphasis is placed on ensuring that the required development potential is present. An assessment must be carried out at the time of appointment/extension.
At the end of the period of employment, the employee transfers to an associate professorship if they have not applied for and received an ordinary professorship. Page 12/16 Clinical professor Appointment as clinical professor is a position at the university which requires simultaneous employment as e.g. senior hospital physician or consultant in a hospital department. For this reason, the position is advertised simultaneously by the university and the hospital. The position may be fixed-term in these situations typically five years with the possibility of an extension. The duties and responsibilities of the position have been agreed with the Central Denmark Region to be fifty per cent university functions and fifty per cent clinical functions. The university tasks and employment requirements of the position are the same as in an ordinary professorship, though medical socialist training or similar qualifications are required (for the sake of appointment to the position of consultant). An assessment must be carried out at the time of appointment/extension. Appointment in an ordinary professorship within the clinical area may also take place. In such cases, the terms and conditions follow those of the ordinary professors and remuneration is made by the hospital. Special positions Senior adviser Employment as senior adviser can be either full-time or part-time. The appointment can be either permanent or fixed-term. The duties and responsibilities of the position are research-based public sector consultancy and communication of research results to the public sector, business and industry and society in general. In addition, teaching may also be involved to a lesser extent. Appointment as a senior adviser may take place on the basis of qualifications achieved through satisfactorily completed employment as an assistant professor/researcher, though other qualifications can also be taken into consideration such as e.g. independently completed communication and consultancy tasks in relation to government agencies and institutions, business and industry and society in general. Relevant qualification requirements must be stated in the job advertisement. At the time of employment/extension, an assessment must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions.
page 13/16 Teaching assistant professor On the sport science degree programme at the Department of Public Health, employment as a teaching assistant professor takes place. Teaching assistant professor is typically full-time employment. The appointment is fixedterm with the requirement that the person in question must be assessed for associate professor qualification no later than six months before the end of the sixth year of employment. The job title of associate professor is awarded if the assessment is positive. If the assessment is negative, there is a possibility of a two-year extension with a view to a new assessment. If this is not done, the employment must be terminated. The total period of employment is a maximum of eight years at AU. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly teaching and similar tasks, as well as any academic development tasks. Supervision is provided as well as the opportunity for educational upgrading. Appointment as a teaching assistant professor requires qualifications at Master s degree level. An assessment must be carried out at the time of appointment/extension. Teaching associate professor On the sport science program at Department of Public Health, employment as teaching associate professor takes place. Teaching associate professor is typically full-time employment. The appointment can be either permanent or fixed-term. The duties and responsibilities of the position are mainly teaching and similar tasks, as well as any academic development tasks. Supervision is provided as well as the opportunity for educational upgrading. Appointment as a teaching associate professor requires academic qualifications at Master's degree level and positive assessment prior to the appointment, and normally also that the student has had at least six years employment within a field of work that is relevant for the position. An assessment must be carried out at the time of appointment/extension.
Clinical associate professor Appointment as clinical associate professor is a part-time position, which is normally fixed-term, but which may also be permanent. Fixed-term employment is for a minimum of three and a maximum of five years. In special cases for a shorter period. Page 14/16 The duties and responsibilities of the position are independent responsibility for conducting teaching assignments, including examinations for medical students and students of clinical biomechanics. The position may also include the development of the field of study etc. There will normally be simultaneous employment as e.g. consultant or senior hospital physician, specialty registrar or registrar at a hospital department, just as some research activity is to be expected. The qualification requirements for appointment as a clinical associate professor are a Master s degree in medicine with additional teaching and research qualifications (e.g. PhD degree or higher doctoral degree), and in the case of an external clinical associate professor in biomechanics, a Master's degree in clinical biomechanics or similar. Employment is subject to the Agreement of 29 November 2012 concerning clinical associate professors at the universities and the Ministry of Education (insert links). At the time of employment/extension, an evaluation must be undertaken and the fixedterm appointment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Clinical assistant Appointment as clinical assistant is a fixed-term employment at the same level as the research assistant. The appointment is typically either a prelude/preparation for a PhD degree programme, or used in the period after a completed but as yet not defended PhD degree programme, prior to any subsequent appointment as postdoc or similar. The main duties and responsibilities of the position are research and/or teaching. To be employed as a clinical assistant, an applicant must hold a Master s degree in medicine and have relevant clinical experience. The maximum length of employment as a clinical assistant is four years and the employment may comprise a maximum of one employment and two extensions. An assessment is required, cf. the internal guidelines for the composition of assessment committees at Health in accordance with AU's internal framework agreement of 9 October 2013.
Clinical instructor Page 15/16 Appointment as clinical instructor is a part-time employment. The appointment may be made for a maximum period of three years and reappointment is possible, while in the case of odontology, there is the opportunity of permanent employment after the first fixed-term appointment. The duties and responsibilities of the position are independent responsibility for teaching and supervision of student projects together with the carrying out of other clinical tasks. Qualification requirements are a relevant final examination for the Master s degree as well as updated experience of relevant clinical work. In fixed-term positions the employment may include a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Assessment is not required in connection with an appointment/extension. Senior clinical instructor of dentistry Appointment as senior clinical instructor of dentistry is a part-time employment. The appointment may be fixed-term for a maximum of period of three years, after which there is a possibility of permanent employment. The duties and responsibilities of the position are management functions as well as teaching and treatment tasks in connection with clinical instruction of odontology students. Qualification requirements for the position are a final examination for the Master s degree in odontology as well as clinical expertise at a high academic level. In fixed-term positions the employment may include a maximum of one employment and two extensions. Assessment is not required in connection with an appointment/extension. Postgraduate fellow in odontology The postgraduate fellow in odontology programme is a three-year full-time employment. The employee follows a clinical further education programme and receives supervision in connection with this. Qualification requirements for the position are Master s degree in odontology combined with two years of full-time employment in practical-clinical odontology, including at least one year s employment with paediatric dental care.
Postgraduate fellow in psychology Page 16/16 The position of clinical fellow in psychology is a fixed-term training position. Appointment is for one year with the option of a further one-year extension. The employee follows a clinical further education programme and receives the supervision in connection with this. Qualification requirements for the position are a final examination for the Master s degree in psychology as well as subsequent clinical-psychological experience.