Assignment as an Expert Adviser for a Docent position

The Assignment

KTH normally commissions an expert adviser to assess the scientific skills sets and capabilities of applicants for the title of docent, unless this is clearly unnecessary for a scrutinization of candidate qualifications in accordance with Faculty Council Directions on Admission as a Docent (pdf 235 kB) .

An expert adviser assessment can be clearly unnecessary if applicants have an international academic title corresponding to docent or have recently been evaluated for promotion to associate professor at KTH.

A KTH representative sends in inquiry to potential expert advisers about their willingness to undertake the assignment. When a potential expert adviser replies that they are willing to undertake the assignment, a proposal is submitted to the KTH Appointments Board. The Appointment Board appoints an expert adviser.

As part of the assignment, the expert adviser is to:

• review the scientific skills set of the applicant for admission as a docent, and produce an individual written report on the candidate’s scientific skills in accordance with the Faculty Council Directions on Admission as a Docent. Make an assessment in the report concerning how closely aligned the qualifications and capabilities of the applicant are with the qualification requirements for a docent position in the subject area the application concerns.

• pay specific attention to the subject area of the appointment and be scientifically and educationally qualified to a degree well above the requirements that apply for a Docent position. 

• not be in a position that can possibly be considered a conflict of interest. It is important that the KTH rules are followed and steps are taken to ensure no conflict of interest can arise and that the expert advisers have read the information on the KTH website about conflict of interest  .
  Examples of conflict of interest include co-authorship, co-applications for research funding, personal relationship.

• to be recruited from outside the university and should be external in relation to KTH.

• would usually have one month to write the report, but this time will depend on the assignment and can be longer. The time will be determined in consultation with the expert adviser after the assignment is confirmed.
  At KTH, appointments processes are purely digital using the “VARBI” recruitment system. The expert adviser will be given authorisation to access a specific page with all documents in the recruitment system.

• payment of fees will be made when the assignment has been concluded, i.e. when the expert adviser report has been submitted. The final report is a public document. Fees depend on the type of case and number of applicants. For more information please see: Directions on fees to board members, expert advisers and opponents .

Potential expert adviser notifies their willingness to accept the assignment

The expert adviser notifies their willingness to accept the assignment by submitting:

• documentation showing their willingness to accept the assignment and that conflict of interest will not be an issue.The KTH standard wording is to be used: accept the expert adviser assignment and certify that no conflict of interest will arise

• current CV including scientific and educational qualifications and experience.

• up to date list of publications.

Experts appointed by the Employment Board

The School collates supporting data in accordance with the template “School Proposal for Expert Advisers”, and checks that the supporting documentation is complete in accordance with the directions in the Administration Procedure for admission as a docent .

Templates for the School proposal for expert advisers according to the respective case type:

•   School Proposal for Expert Advisers for a Promotion (docx 69 kB)

The proposal is to be uploaded by the School to the KTH recruitment system. The proposal is prepared by teacher appointments and reviewed by the Appointments Board. The Appointments Board resolves on appointing expert advisers.

Information about Appointments Board directions and Appointments Board meeting times and minutes: The Appointments Board .