My
PhD project went so difficult because SLU couldn't provide an
adequate supervision. My former supervisor denied his duties, even
when it came to publishing articles. I expected that my University
would at least find me a new and effective supervisor for the final
step of my project. However, six months passed before SLU took care
of this question. And the way how my University did it surprised me.
SLU's
rules say that a student should participate in discussion of
candidates and, together with others, sign a proposal for a new
supervisor. The discussion is especially important when the
experience with the first supervisor was so damaging for the
student's career. But this did not happened in my case. SLU decided
to appoint me a new supervisory group in conflict with all the rules
and when I refused to accept the obviously biased candidates, the
University started to pressure me.
From:
Jan S
Sent:
18 October 2012 16:40
To:
Elena K
Cc:
Rimvydas V; Roger F; Marianne C; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart
J; Christer B; Pär F
Subject:
Supervisior group
Dear
Elena,
I
have now put together a new supervisor group for you.
The
main supervisor will be Doc Rimvys V (Mykopat) and the co-supervisors
Prof Johan M (VBSG), Prof Martin W (VPE), Prof Marianne C (Mykopat)
and Doc Nils H (Mykopat). As you can see they are all highly
experienced and merited in different aspects of your field of
interest both from the technical, theoretical and applied side.
Shortly
there will be a meeting where you will agree on a revised study plan
that you can follow to finalise your studies.
Best
regards,
Jan
From:
Elena K
Sent:
18 October 2012 19:42
To:
Jan S
Cc:
Rimvydas V; Marianne C; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart J;
Christer B; Pär F; Björn A
Subject:
RE: Supervisior group
Dear
Prof. S,
I
appreciate your efforts to create a group of supervisors for me.
Since it is a crucial question for my career, I hope that I may
express my opinion as well.
I
would appreciate it if an external expert would become my main
supervisor, since I have an impression that scientists from my
Department are biased toward me and my projects.
I
would be grateful if Prof. W would become my main supervisor. His
knowledge in wheat biology and also his skills in statistics would be
a valuable complement to my project.
I
strongly oppose the involvement of Prof. C in supervising my project.
Being a person, responsible for PhD education at our Department, she
showed absolutely no consideration to my case.
If
it is necessary to include experts from our Department into the group
of supervisors, I would appreciate it if Dr. A would be considered. I
highly acknowledge his experience and understanding of the modern
agriculture.
Regards,
Elena
K
From: Christer
B Sent: 19
October 2012 16:41To: Jan
S; Elena KCc: Rimvydas
V; Roger F;
Marianne C; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart J; Pär
FSubject: Ang.:
Supervisior group
Dear
All
The faculty note the progress in this matter and is pleased to
see the high competence and experience represented in the group of
supervisors.
Sincerely
Christer B
Forest entomology, Dept of Ecology
Swedish univ agricultural sciences
Christer B
Forest entomology, Dept of Ecology
Swedish univ agricultural sciences
From: Elena
K Sent: 19
October 2012 17:50 To: Christer
B; Jan S Cc: Rimvydas
V; Marianne C; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart J; Pär F; Björn
A; Anna A Subject: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Dr. B,
I
am afraid that it was something wrong with e-mail service again and
you have not got my letter, which was sent yesterday. Here it comes
once again. Sorry for repetition!
Dear
Prof. S,
I
appreciate your efforts to create a group of supervisors for me.
Since it is a crucial question for my career, I hope that I may
express my opinion as well.
I
would appreciate it if an external expert would become my main
supervisor, since I have an impression that scientists from my
Department are biased toward me and my projects.
I
would be grateful if Prof. W would become my main supervisor. His
knowledge in wheat biology and also his skills in statistics would be
a valuable complement to my project.
I
strongly oppose the involvement of Prof. C in supervising my project.
Being a person, responsible for PhD education at our Department, she
showed absolutely no consideration to my case.
If
it is necessary to include experts from our Department into the group
of supervisors, I would appreciate it if Dr. A would be considered. I
highly acknowledge his experience and understanding of the modern
agriculture.
Regards,
Elena
K
From: Jan
S Sent: 19
October 2012 18:21 To: Elena
K; Christer B Cc: Rimvydas
V; Marianne C; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart J; Pär F; Björn
A; Anna A Subject: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Elena,
It
will not be possible to have a main supervisor from another
department.
Best
regards,
Jan
S
From: Elena
K Sent: 19
October 2012 19:18 To: Jan
S; Christer B Cc: Rimvydas
V; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Lennart J; Pär F; Björn A; Anna
A Subject: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Prof. S,
If
it is not possible to have the main supervisor from another
Department, then I would appreciate if two other options would be
considered. The first is that my registration would be changed to the
other Department; and the second is that I will just go on without
main supervisor as I actually have been doing for all these years.
My only wish is to use the expertise of Prof. W and being able
to consult him on an official ground.
I
am afraid, that the appointment of any scientist from our Department
as my main supervisor might lead to a new conflict, which I wish to
escape by any means. My wish from the begining was to solve this
conflict within the Department. Unfortunately you have been very
resistant to all my attempts. Now it is going too far and I am afraid
I can not trust anymore to the internal experts.
Best
regards,
Elena
K
From: Elena
K Sent: 21
October 2012 06:03 To: Rektor;
Rimvydas V; Jan S; Christer B Cc: IngridP
(Forward); IngerA (Forward); BosseAJ; RolfL (Forward); JohanL
(Forward); LennartB
(Forward); EvaTh (Forward); Lena A-E; PeterS (Forward); Göran Er;
Ingrid Ö; Inger Å; Saco-SLU Ordförande, Lars L; Roger A; Martin M;
Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Pär F; Björn A; Anna A Subject: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
All,
Regrettably,
the attempt to solve a problem with the supervision of my PhD studies
came to a dead end. I feel a bit lost: on the same day I have got two
contradicting messages from Dr. V (please, see below) and it is
difficult to understand which of his intentions is the true one. This
casus confirms my worse fears that Dr. V, if being appointed as my
main supervisor, would like to use this position to discredit my
reputation and to nullify my chances of completing PhD studies. I am
afraid that it was a part of plan that the Head of our Department,
Prof. S prepared for me long time ago.
Unfortunately,
in spite of many assurances of best intentions provided by Prof. S,
his actions contradict his words. My studentship was cancelled
just few months before my PhD studies would be completed. It was done
without warning and without any explanations. About each and every
rule prescript in the Guidelines
for Research Education in the Faculty of Natural Resources and
Agricultural Sciences were
violated during the procedure of the preliminary termination of my
studies. Mention just that there were only two meetings during all
these nine months that supposed to deal with the problem. Both of
them were organized by my initiative and after my numerous requests.
Also in spite of my frequent requests for appointment of new
supervisor there was no any action taken during half a year. Finally,
there was even an attempt to disable my access to the laboratory and
e-mail/software services.
I
am not psychologist, but to my humble opinion, Prof. S is affected by
very personal and very negative feelings and is using administrative
recourses to satisfy his revenge. If only he could explain me what
triggered such negative emotions, I possibly would try to change my
behavior. My worries are also that the next time, when Prof. S would
dislike someone else (someone with less stable nervous system then
mine) and would start a new hounding the University might be involved
in dealing with suicide.
What
I found even more disappointed and dangerous is that experts
appointed by the Faculty to supervise the process of problem solving
have been observing all violations of the rules with inexplicable
indifference. Trigged by their passiveness I filed an appeal to the
Swedish Agency of Higher Education. Currently, thanks to Dr. B´s and
Dr. F´s lack of concern, the whole University is in charge for this
problem. In this case, one can even suspect the intentional desire to
transfer responsibility to the higher level. I felt extremely
uncomfortable to blame innocent people in deeds they were not guilty
at (in this case the SLU Authorities), but indifference of these two
experts left me no other way out.
Although
it might impose some exertion on your e-mail boxes, I would like to
provide you all with detailed information regarding my case. So if
you wish, you could make your own opinion about it. The files with my
appeal to the Swedish Agency of High Education, the reply from the
Department and my comments on this reply are enclosed into
attachment.
Finally,
my deep plea is, please, if you do not want to help me then at least
stop installing new obstacles. My only desire is to finalize my PhD
studies as soon as possible and leave you in peace. I have no bad
feelings to my University, only a great disappointment in particular
people.
Best
regards,
Elena
K
Dept.
Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences
From: Lena
A-E Sent: 24 October 2012 16:46 To: Elena K; Rektor;
Rimvydas V; Jan ; Christer B; registrator Cc: IngridP
(Forward); IngerA(Forward); BosseAJ; RolfL (Forward); JohanL
(Forward); LennartB (Forward); EvaTh(Forward); PeterS (Forward);
Göran Er; Ingrid Ö; Inger Å; Saco-SLU Ordförande, Lars L; Roger
A; Martin M; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Pär F; Björn A; Anna A;
Lotta H Subject: SV: Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Elena K,
I
have been informed of your case and regret that your education is not
proceeding according to your expectations. SLU has a keen interest in
developing and improving the PhD education in general, but also in
supporting PhD students if the study and work situation becomes hard
to handle. Thus a PhD commissioner is supported by the university and
available for you to contact. When it comes to more complicated
situations it is the responsibility of the faculty board, with
guidance of the university lawyer, to ensure that the case is handled
by appropriate persons according to the legislation. According to my
information, work is in progress and a solution will be suggested.
Best
regards,
Lena
A-E
Deputy
Vice-Chancellor
Sveriges
lantbruksuniversitet
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Från: Elena
K Skickat: den
24 oktober 2012 20:28 Till: Lena
A-E; Rektor; Rimvydas V; Jan St; C B; registrator Kopia: IngridP
(Forward); IngerA (Forward); BosseAJ; RolfL (Forward); JohanL
(Forward); LennartB(Forward); EvaTh (Forward); PeterS (Forward);
Göran E; Ingrid Ö; Inger Å; Saco-SLU Ordförande, Lars L; Roger A;
Martin M; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Pär F; Björn An; Anna A; Lotta
H Ämne: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Dr. A-E,
Thank
you for your replay and for the willingness to find a solution for
this situation.
Today
I have got a message from Högskoleverket with Mr. J’s remarks on
my comments (the file is enclosed). I would appreciate if you can
inform me whether the position that is formulated in Mr. J´s letter
is the official position of our University.
One
more time I appreciate for your concern and am looking forward for
the win-win resolution of this situation.
Best
regards,
Elena
K
Dept.
Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology,
Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences
________________________________________
From: Lena
A-E Sent: 25
October 2012 17:46 To: Elena
K Cc: registrator Subject: SV:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
Elena K,
Mr
Jonsson, the university laywer, represents the universitet in this
matter.
Best
regards
Lena
A-E
Deputy
Vice-Chancellor
Sveriges
lantbruksuniversitet
Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences
From: Gabriella
P H Sent: 26
October 2012 11:47 To: Elena
K Subject: Decision
regarding supervisors and formulation of a new individual studyplan
Please
see attached decision.*
Yours
sincerely
Gabriella
P H
Utbildningshandläggare
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
________________________________________________________________
From: Elena
K Sent: 29
October 2012 02:36 To: Lena
A-E; Rektor; Christer B; registrator Kopia: IngridP
(Forward); IngerA (Forward); BosseAJ; RolfL (Forward); JohanL
(Forward); LennartB(Forward); EvaTh (Forward); PeterS (Forward);
Göran E; Ingrid Ö; Inger Å; Saco-SLU Ordförande, Lars L; Roger A;
Martin M; Martin W; Johan M; Nils H; Pär F; Björn An; Anna A; Lotta
H; Roger
F Subject: RE:
Ang.: Supervisior group
Dear
All,
I
apologize for bothering you again, but after nine months of
discussions about my PhD studies I realized that appealing to several
persons in charge might be the only way to get answer.
On
October 26th, I was informed about a new group of
supervisors appointed for me by the NL Faculty (file Beslut Dnr
Fe.2012.4.9 – 1257 is enclosed). My opinion on this crucially
important issue was not even been inquired. To my point of view to
assign superiors in autocratic manner is well expected at military
organizations, understandable at private companies, but is out of
place at academia environment. The inability or unwillingness of
University (!) to maintain a constructive dialog and a clear tendency
to eliminate problems by applying pressure is a scaring sign.
After
the first attempt to appoint a new supervisors group done by Prof. S,
I explained my reasons for re-consideration of this proposal (file
Supervisor group_sv is enclosed). Prof. S stated that it is
impossible to have a scientist from another Department to be
appointed as my main supervisor. The decision made by NL Faculty also
did not take into consideration my request for external expert to be
appointed as my main supervisor.
I
regret to be a person, who need to remind SLU Authorities about the
Rules prescribed by themselves, but according to the Guidelines for
research education (third level programmes) in the Faculty of Natural
Resources and Agricultural Sciences (Dnr SLU ua 40-1244/08) not only
a scientist from another Department but even a scientist from other
University can be appointed as a main supervisor for PhD student at
SLU.
Particularly
the paragraph §3 of the Guidelines says “A person who is an
associate professor or professor, and employed at or visiting SLU may
become the principal supervisor of a research student without a
specific decision to that effect. A principal supervisor who is not
an associate professor at SLU must have a recognised qualification in
pedagogy of supervision.” (please, see the original document for
more details at
Dr.
H after being appointed as my main supervisor started with making a
list of “must to do” tasks for me (see below). There was no any
slightest concern whether it is feasible for me to do all these
things. I have not been paid since the end of January 2012. My
savings run off very quickly after this. Currently most of my time is
devoted for making some modest living for me and my son. I have
maximum two days in a week to dedicate to any other activities. In
addition, the restricted diet for the last nine months seriously
affects my health and diminishes my ability to work as efficient as I
was able to work before. Under these conditions I am not able
to make any plans and/or to keep up with such plans.
Regretfully,
the only solution that my University is ready to offer me is to put
on additional pressure on me without providing any conditions that
would allow me to fulfill these demands.
By
the other hand, my former supervisor, Prof. F has got the
incomprehensible protection from our University. He not only escaped
questioning about the reasons why he did not find time within two
years to read my manuscripts and to give his feedback on them, or why
he was unable to guideline me through the basic statistical methods
applied in his field of research; he even remained my supervisor
until now according to the letter written by Mr. J to the Swedish
Agency of Higher Education on October 24th, 2012! So,
attached to this message is a file with a formal request for
withdrawal Prof. F from the position of my supervisor. I hope this
request will be registered and processed according the prescribed
protocols.
Under
these circumstances, I think that disagreements between my University
and me can not be resolved without the participation of a third part.
My proposal for now is to leave this problem for the consideration of
the Swedish Agency for High Education and wait for their decision.
Best
regards,
Elena
K
***
I continued asking SLU for a proper procedure of appointing a supervisor, but University ignored my requests. At the end of the year I needed to apply for a visa extension and sent a request to SLU for a issuing
a certificate:
From:
Elena K Sent:
30 November 2012 07:37 To: Gabriella P H Subject:
Decision regarding supervisors and formulation of a new individual
studyplan
Dear Dr. P H,
My
PhD studies are still not finished, so I need to apply for visa
extend. To be able to do so I need to present to Migration Board
several documents (http://www.migrationsverket.se/info/2973_en.html)
I
would appreciate your assistance in obtaining a document referred in
the second paragraph:
“a
statement from your institution of learning showing that you have
made acceptable progress in your studies. If your are studying at
university or college, you are required to have taken 15 credits
during the first year, 22.5 during the second year, and 30 credits
during the third and subsequent years. If you are a graduate student,
you should instead attach proof from your instructor confirming how
your training is progressing and the planned dissertation date”
Thank you in
advance!
Sincerely,
Elena K
___________________________________________________________________
From:
Gabriella P H Sent:
30 November 2012 13:27 To: Elena K Subject: RE:
Decision regarding supervisors and formulation of a new individual
studyplan
Dear Elena,
I'm
afraid I can't help you with that kind of document. You have to ask
your supervisor/department to help you. You have a meeting with your
supervisors on Monday, right? A complete Individual study plan might
be such a document that the Migration Board is asking for.
Concerning
your Individual study plan (sorry I haven't had time to answer you
earlier), it has to be completed and signed by your supervisor and
head of department, and then sent to me. Hopefully that will be done
by Monday.
Have a nice
weekend!
Yours sincerely
Gabriella
From:
Elena K Sent:
30 November 2012 14:21 To:
Gabriella P H Lena A-E Subject:
supervision group
Dear Dr. P H,
Thank you for
your letter.
However,
I am afraid, there is again misunderstanding. I have informed the SLU
Authorities earlier that I can not agree with appointed supervisors'
group since the process of appointment was autocratic and my request
to have unbiased main supervisor has not been considered (please,
see the letter below).
My
favor to reconsider the decision about supervision group was repeated
twice since that, but was refused to be noticed by SLU Authorities.
In
case if my favor was not clear expressed, I need to repeat that I
want to have any scientists from other Department to be appointed as
my main supervisor. This request does not conflict with SLU Rules, so
I do not understand why it was ignored.
Sincerely,
Elena
K
From:
Lena A-E Sent:
30 November 2012 16:54 To:
Elena K Cc: Gabriella P
H; registrator
Subject: SV:
supervision group
Dear Elena K,
The
faculty board has the responsibility for the PhD education, and I
have full confidence for their way of handling this issue. The
faculty board decides upon the individual study plan and has
appointed a new supervisory group. You will have to accept to meet
the supervisors and to fulfil the study plan in order to successfully
complete the studies.
Best regards,
Lena A-E
Deputy
Vice-Chancellor
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