Malmö University becoming a member of the Dorich House Group international network, in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The university’s representatives at the assembly were project manager Gunilla Pfannenstill and Vice-Chancellor Lennart Olausson (both just right of the centre of the picture).

Malmö University was elected to join the Dorish House Group at a formal ceremony in conjunction with the network’s annual general meeting, which took place recently in Vilnius. Representing the university in the Lithuanian capital were Gunilla Pfannenstill and Vice-Chancellor Lennart Olausson.

“Staff and postgraduate researchers at several of the other universities in the network have been aware that Malmö University is conducting interesting research within their fields. They therefore thought it would be a positive move if we joined the group,” says Gunilla Pfannenstill. “We were already collaborating actively with two of the universities in the group, including exchanges for students and lecturers.”

Strong in all areas
Gunilla explains that at present, the institutions of learning of the Dorich House Group focus primarily on research and development in three areas:
# migration
# ageing population
# sustainable development

“This fits in really well with what we do, since we are strong in all three areas, both in terms of undergraduate courses and postgraduate research. We are therefore confident that our membership of the Dorich House Group will lead to further interesting and successful projects.”

Gunilla Pfannenstill also mentions that some of the university’s researchers in migration have already established contacts to discuss a joint application for research funds with colleagues from other universities in the group.

# What about the cost of joining the Dorich House Group?
“It’s a small amount, just a few thousand kronor per year since the group does not have a secretariat with its own staff. It works in a different way: for example, if we invite researchers or lecturers from one of the other universities to Malmö, we have to pay for their accommodation and living costs. For exchanges of lecturers or other personnel, we can apply for funds from the EU’s ERASMUS programme,” concludes Gunilla Pfannenstill.