Procedures for appointing a visiting professors

Procedures for appointing an adjunct professor, approved by the Faculty Board Working Committee, 25 April 2023.

The purpose of appointing visiting professors is to provide the opportunity to engage well-qualified people who are principally employed at another higher education institution in the University’s research and teaching. Appointments must be based on the faculty’s needs.

An appointment as visiting professor is personal and is not advertised.

Appointment as a visiting professor cannot be combined with another appointment at Uppsala University.

The appointment of a visiting professor must be based on considerations of

the relevance of the subject area with reference to the faculty/section’s strategic planning
the candidate representing an area of expertise that is important for the faculty and the ability to offer good working conditions in collaboration with the department concerned
the candidate possessing the qualifications required for employment as a visiting professor according to the Guidelines for the Appointment and Promotion of Teachers at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology (TEKNAT 2022/292)
the possibility of funding the position and its associated costs.

1. Proposal from the department

The appointment of a visiting professor is normally initiated at department level and the head of department submits a request to the Faculty Board’s Working Committee. The request must contain:

The department board’s proposal for the appointment (extract from the department board’s minutes)
Subject area
Reasons for the appointment
Scope and duration of the appointment
Funding plan for the appointment and associated costs
The candidate’s CV and list of publications
Statement from the section dean and proposed referees
If the head of department considers that assessment by referees is manifestly unnecessary, the reasons for this must be explained in the request.

2. Processing in the Faculty Board’s Working Committee

If the Working Committee approves the request, it appoints at least two referees, acting on a proposal from the relevant section dean. If assessment by referees is deemed manifestly unnecessary, the Working Committee proposes to the Vice-Chancellor that the candidate be appointed as visiting professor.

3. Referees and referee assessments

Women and men must be represented equally among the referees, unless there are special reasons to the contrary. The referees are to evaluate both research and teaching expertise. The referees are to write separate opinions independently of one another. The referees’ opinions are to indicate the factual evidence to which they have had access. The opinions must describe the candidate’s research and educational qualifications and conclude by taking a position on the candidate’s expertise.

4. Processing in the Recruitment Committee

If referee assessments have been made, the matter is processed by the Recruitment Committee which delivers an appointment proposal to the Faculty Board (Working Committee).

If deemed necessary, the Recruitment Committee can invite the candidate for a trial lecture, research presentation and interview.

5. Processing in the Faculty Board’s Working Committee

Acting on the Recruitment Committee’s proposal, the Faculty Board (Working Committee) decides whether to submit a proposal to the Vice-Chancellor to appoint the candidate as visiting professor.

Extension of a visiting professorship

A Visiting Professorship may be extended. The total period of employment may not exceed five years. The head of department proposes an extension in a request to the Faculty Board, explains the need for an extension and describes the intended scope and financing. The faculty board's working committee decides on a proposal to the vice-chancellor to extend the employment.

Regulations on appointment as visiting professor

Higher Education Act

Chapter 3, Section 3

A professor shall be employed until further notice unless otherwise stipulated in the paragraph below. A professor may be employed for a fixed term, if the appointment concerns [...] 3. a position as a visiting lecturer for a person who has the required qualifications for appointment as a professor (visiting professor). (SFS 2010:701)

Higher Education Ordinance

Chapter 4, Section 12

A visiting professor must be employed until further notice, but until a specified date. These appointments may be extended. The total period of employment may be no longer than five years. For other aspects of these appointments, the Employment Protection Act (1982:80) applies. (SFS 2010:1064).

Uppsala University Appointment Regulations (UFV 2019/1673)

Section 78

As stated in Section 6 of the Employment Ordinance (SFS 1994:373), information about job vacancies need not be provided if there are special reasons not to do so.

Section 88

When appointing or promoting an individual to professor (including adjunct professor or visiting professor) or senior lecturer (including adjunct senior lecturer) or associate senior lecturer, at least two referees from other higher education institutions or the equivalent must be engaged to assess the expertise of applicants, unless this is manifestly unnecessary.