Dear Members of the MOL

With the beginning of the semester and the returning students the university is awakening from its summer sleep. The Mid-level Staff is also growing by a couple of members every month. The new spirit can be felt everywhere in the University. As members of the board, we would like to keep you informed and involved in shaping the future of the Mid-Level Organisation Lucerne (MOL). In this newsletter, you will find a short introduction of Matteo Frey, who was elected to the board for the Faculty of Theology (TF), new figures on equality at the University of Lucerne and on the situation of the academic Mid-level in Switzerland, as well as an outlook on the next dates. We are also looking forward for candidates for the Faculty of Economic and Management's (WF) vacant seat in the board.

Kind regards,
Your MOL-Board

Matteo Frey (TF), Aline Leimann (RF), Alexander Ort (GWM), Antonia Steigerwald (KSF)

Dear members of the MOL,

My name is Matteo Frey and I am a PhD student and research assistant at the Institute of Social Ethics ISE. I am writing my dissertation on the topic of the ethical aspects of the political in the Olympic sport.

Since April 2022, I have also been active as the Faculty of Theology's representative in the board of the Mid-level Organisation Lucerne (MOL). Together with my fellow board members, I help to ensure that your concerns and needs are heard, both within the University of Lucerne and throughout the university location Switzerland. For this, a lively exchange with all members of the Mid-level is important to me.

I look forward to meeting you soon at one of the regular MOL-meetings. Or just drop in for a coffee, my office is in Room 3.B56. See you soon!

We are pleased to have candidatures for all MOL representatives positions in the commissions. The candidates will introduce themselves to you in a special newsletter before the elections at the general assembly.

We are still looking for candidates for the following position:

• MOL Board Member WF

Preference will be given to candidates from the Faculty of Economics and Management, so that all faculties and the department are represented on the board. However, candidates from other faculties who would like to get involved with the MOL are also welcome to apply.
Would you like to stand for election? Then get in touch with molremove-this.@remove-this.unilu.ch. We look forward to meet you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Petition Academia

After more than two years, the Academia petition for equal opportunities and the promotion of young academics has made it to the National Council. In the run-up to the vote, the MOL wrote personally to all National Councillors in the cantons of Central Switzerland asking for their support.
Fortunately, the petition found a clear majority of supporters.
As a result of this vote, the Federal Council is now called upon to draw up and submit a report on issues of precarious employment and equal opportunities in the academic mid-level staff at Swiss universities. In addition, it will also be examined whether and how a larger number of permanent positions can be created at postdoc levels.

Situation of the academic mid-level staff

It is not only the Academia petition that is concerned with the situation in the academic mid-level staff. Other institutions are also trying to evaluate the working conditions and satisfaction of academic staff in Switzerland.

The results of an SNSF survey from the beginning of this year show that young academics appreciate their jobs, but there is still considerable potential for improvement, particularly with regard to working hours and fixed-term contracts. "The academic world must adapt to the demands of today’s labour market, especially to the expectations of up-and-coming generations in terms of independence and prospects. Swiss higher education institutions must continue to be able to attract the best talent", says Angelika Kalt, director of the SNSF.

A study by the Swiss Science Council focusing on the career paths of scientists with doctorates also shows a need for action. Specifically, the experts of the Science Council recommend better information about career opportunities, the intensification of continuing education programmes, an increase in positions for assistant professors with tenure track and better monitoring of postdocs.

The MOL welcomes the growing interest and the increasing importance that politics and other central institutions of the science system attribute to the working conditions for young academics. However, because these conditions differ throughout Switzerland and from location to location, the MOL would like to assess the status quo of the situation at the University of Lucerne by means of a survey among the mid-level faculty. Therefore, we will invite all members of the mid-level faculty to participate in a survey during the autumn semester. Further information will follow in a separate mailing.

Gender Equality at the University of Lucerne

The latest numbers on the development of gender equality at the University of Lucerne were published in June 2022.

At the doctoral level, gender relations are quite balanced. Already at the post-doc level, larger differences between the faculties arise. Sadly, the number of female professors has been stagnating, even declining, for years. Where are our female professors?!

Find more insightful details in the flyer (in German only).
Link to the website: Equality Monitoring

Note: The monitoring only captures the categories male and female. The authors are aware that this portrayal contributes to the reproduction of the binary gender order.

General Assembly 2022 - Safe the Date

Date: Thu, 27 October 2022  / 15.30h, followed by an aperitif - Where: Inseliquai 10, Room 220

-> The invitation will follow by separate mail.

MOL-Meetings

Last week we have welcomed around 20 members of the Mid-level to the first MOL meeting in this semester. The MOL is in a process of formation and change, so at the meeting we took the chance to present the focus of our work and tasks, to answer questions and listen to your concerns. At the aperitif afterwards - which took place in the pergola thanks to the nice weather - the exchange was continued in a relaxed atmosphere.

The next meeting will take place on 24 November 2022 at 4.15 p.m. in room 220 at Inseliquai 10 - we look forward to seeing you!

For all actual dates have a look at our website Vernetzung des akademischen Mittelbaus (english website in progress)

News on our website

On our website we are publishing regularly interesting articles and news concerning the Mid-level - have a look: News (english website in progress)

Contested Equality

We would like to draw your attention to the conference 'Contested Equality - International and Comparative Legal Perspectives', which will take place on 20/21 October 2022 at the University of Zurich. The conference will analyse the recent challenges and developments of equality and non-discrimination in the international architecture of legal systems.

The conference offers you an opportunity to present your work to junior and senior scholars all around the world as well as the participation in high-level panels. Furthermore, there will be an opportunity to publish your contribution in an edited volume or a renowned international journal following the conference.

For more information on the programme and registration, please see the following link: Conference_Contested_Equality_CfP

The conference is organised by Dr. Elif Askin, Marisa Beier as well as Hanna Stoll of the URPP Equality of Opportunity Programm at the University of Zurich. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write at equalitylaw@rwi.uzh.ch.