Three more years and fit for fight

Head of department Erik Steen Kristensen has renewed his contract and therefore continues as leader of the Department of Agroecology. The new contract is for a three-year period starting on 1 June.

When faced with the renewal of a contract, it may be a good time to reflect. Do you actually want to continue in the job? How did the last contract period go? What would you like to see happening in the future? These are thoughts that Erik has also had.

- I have decided to continue for a number of reasons. First, I really like the job. Second, I am pleased that AGRO is flourishing. Large changes have taken place in the past five years and we are making good progress. We have skilled staff, a healthy economy and good teamwork between Flakkebjerg and Foulum, says Erik.

We are progressive

On a strategic level AGRO has planted itself centre-stage when it comes to socially important issues of national as well as international ilk.

- Our strategy and four new flagships fit perfectly with the global challenges and policy agendas. We also pride ourselves on being good at providing research-based policy support to the authorities. In this area, we have made a particularly good effort in recent years. We have been visible and substantive and kept our path clean in the midst of a heated political debate.

If agriculture is to continue developing at a high level, it is important that young people enrol on the degree programmes that can contribute to this development. Here, too, AGRO is a player in the field.

- It is good that student enrolment on our courses is steadily rising. It would, however, be good to have more applicants, but it's a long haul to get to that stage. The students are pleased with the courses, very few drop out, and there are good job opportunities for them when they graduate, says Erik, who also welcomes the completion of the new bright and friendly rooms in Katrinebjerg (see also the article ‘All doubts banished’).

A peep into the crystal ball

AGRO is doing well, according to Erik, but you also have to have an eye for the future. What does he see when he looks into his crystal ball?

- In the next three years we will see that our flagships are well under way and that they can expose and focus the research areas that they represent. We will follow our new recruitment plan, which means, among other things, that we have a ratio on our staff of two junior VIPs for every senior VIP. The composition of the department is continuing its positive development where we have a stable staff of senior VIPs and many young staff members too, says Erik about the future.

All in all, it is a positive and optimistic head of department who will continue to man the helm.

- We – in other words, the AGRO employees and I – are all fit for fight and I am very keen to find out what we can achieve in the next three years, says Erik Steen Kristensen.