New director of studies: The success criterion is that the students do not notice me
Associate Professor Mette Vinther Skriver knows what to expect when she takes over the position of director of studies for the degree programme in public health science in February 2022. She has done it before, and is looking forward to returning to work in the cross-section between students, teaching staff and studies administration.
When Mette Vinther Skriver and her family decamped to France in 2020, it also meant a farewell to working as an associate professor at the Department of Public Health and to the role of director of studies. But now she is back.
"I’m looking forward to getting the chance to help shape the degree programme both academically and socially. As I see it, the degree programme in public health science is the perfect package for analysing, initiating and evaluating health promotion initiatives, just as the programme is characterised by committed students, teaching staff and administrative staff. I’m looking forward to working with all three again," she says.
My role mostly takes place backstage
She values good collaboration highly and sees the role of director of studies as a link between the faculty, department, teaching staff and students. A link that ensures that all aspects of running the degree programme take place as smoothly as possible.
"For me, one of the success criteria is that the students do not notice my function, in the sense that the practical aspects of teaching and exams do not give rise to comments," says Mette Vinther Skriver.
The biggest challenge is the desire to cater for everyone
Her goal is for all parties to thrive in the collaboration, and for everyone's wishes and needs to be met as far as possible. But she also acknowledges that she will sometimes have to make some unpopular decisions.
"My biggest challenge as director of studies is probably that I want to please everyone. And that’s not always possible. Some decisions will inevitably have an inexpedient impact on either students, teaching staff or the administration. And that can be really difficult," says Mette Vinther Skriver.
Degree programme evaluation one of the major tasks in 2022
As a new but experienced director of studies, Mette Vinther Skriver expects to be able to get started on her tasks more quickly than last time. Now she knows what is involved in the role, and she knows the organisation she will be navigating in.
"In 2022, the most important task for me as director of studies will be to head an evaluation of the public health science degree programme. The last evaluation took place back in 2017 while I was also director of studies, and it was an exciting and instructive process. So I'm looking forward to getting started on this. Also, we probably can’t avoid planning in connection with the coronavirus being an important part of the director of studies portfolio in 2022," she says.
Mette Vinther Skriver takes over the position of director of studies from the two associate professors Kim Moesgaard Iburg and Ulrika Enemark, who have shared the function between them for the past two years.
Facts about Mette Vinther Skriver
- Employed at the Department of Public Health since 2007 and took over the post of director of studies on 1 February 2022
- Lecturer on the courses "Public Health and Demographics" and "Advanced Health Economics and Demography".
- Was also director of studies on the public health science programme from 2013 to 2019.
- Has lived for almost two years in France together with her husband and their youngest child in connection with her husband’s work posting.
- Lives in Højbjerg south of Aarhus.
- 49 years old.
Contact
Associate Professor & PhD Mette Vinther Skriver
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health
Mobile: (+45) 2372 6582
Email: mette.skriver@ph.au.dk