SLU news

SLU’s environmental assessment staff to get new titles

Published: 14 December 2016

New, more specific titles and a defined competence level for staff working with environmental assessment are the result of a recent decision by SLU’s vice-chancellor.

The following titles will be created:

  • Environmental assessment assistant
  • Environmental assessment analyst
  • Environmental assessment specialist

In addition to the titles, the competence level senior environmental assessment specialist will be created, and environmental assessment specialists will be able to apply for this title in the same way teachers and researchers can apply for the title of docent.

– At last, we have titles that make it clear that our environmental assessment analysts are doing just that, environmental assessment. This is a clear signal that SLU values their specific competence, says Pro Vice-Chancellor Kevin Bishop, responsible for environmental monitoring and assessment (EMA) at SLU. He adds:

– I'm particularly happy that the new competence level defines the standard for excellence in environmental assessment. This is another step towards professionalising the environmental assessment work at SLU, and comes just in time for the 20th anniversary of EMA becoming a separate branch of activity at SLU – this is still unique among higher education institutions in Sweden.

The Division of Human Resources will be reviewing the titles of all staff with environmental assessment as their main task. This will be done in spring, together with the heads of department and other managers concerned. All departments with staff in this category will be receiving more information from Human Resources.

The plan is also to include the environmental assessment specialists in the faculties' electoral assemblies. However, this requires a prior decision by the SLU Board to make the necessary changes to the section in the delegation of authority that concerns the electoral assemblies of the faculties.

Some kind of centrally placed, preparatory body for appointing senior environmental assessment specialists will also be set up in 2017. Initially, the task of this body will be to draft instructions for applicants, but the hope is that as of 2018, it will be possible to apply for the title of senior environmental assessment specialist.