News Item
Deadline for submissions is October 1 2023 at 4:00 PM Greenlandic time/8:00 PM Danish time.
N.B.: Updated on Friday 15 September 2023. It is possible to suggest up to two candidates, who will carry out the work as principal investigator together.
With the joint declaration of June 9, 2022, Naalakkersuisut and the government decided to initiate a historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark in the period from World War II to the present day.
On June 22, 2023, Naalakkersuisut and the government agreed on the terms of reference for the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark, which sets the framework for the research project.
According to the terms of reference, Greenland Research Council and Independent Research Fund Denmark have been tasked, jointly, with recommending a small number of suitable candidates to the Naalakkersuisoq for Education, Culture, Sports, and Church and the Minister of Higher Education and Science for the position of principal investigator for the upcoming historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark.
With this open call, everyone - public as well as private organisations and individuals - can submit one or more proposals for candidates, including self-nominations. The principal investigator will be appointed by the Naalakkersuisoq for Education, Culture, Sports, and Church and the Minister of Higher Education and Science.
The framework for the research project is outlined in the terms of reference for the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark.
The countries agree that Denmark will provide a total of DKK 45 million for the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark. The allocated grant will go to Namminersorlutik Oqartussat (The Self-Government of Greenland) for implementation of the work on the historical inquiry, which will be anchored at Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland).
As stated in the terms of reference, the inquiry will be carried out within a period of 5 years, if possible. It is the intension that a comprehensive inquiry be delivered to Naalakkersuisut and the government no later than 5 years after the commencement of the agreement between the principal investigator and Ilisimatusarfik and that this will be publicly released subsequently.
The following criteria are favoured in the selection of the principal investigator, as stated in the terms of reference for the historical inquiry:
N.B. Added 15 September 2023: It is possible to suggest up to two candidates, who can carry out the work as principal investigator together. The two candidates must understand and ac-cept the nomination, including the shared responsibility as principal investigator. The criteria below apply to both candidates.
Furthermore, the terms of reference state that the principal investigator will establish a group of professionals. In this context, emphasis will be placed on an interdisciplinary composition with knowledge of the intertwined histories and societal conditions of Greenland and Denmark, experience with research dissemination, and representation of professionals from both Greenland and Denmark. The group must include professionals with language skills in Greenlandic and Danish.
Together with the group of professionals, the principal investigator will develop a comprehensive project plan which will form the basis for allocation of research funds. The project plan should include a timetable for the work, budget items, and an overview of primary milestones, and involvement and dissemination activities.
The detailed organisational and employment terms, including salary scale and staff accommodation, will be determined in an agreement between the principal investigator and Ilisimatusarfik.
It is a prerequisite that the candidate has read the terms of reference before a proposal is submitted. It is also a prerequisite that the proposed candidate has confirmed their interest in being nominated by the nominator.
The overall framework for the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark is outlined in the terms of reference.
The terms of reference state that the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark must be a scholarly founded contribution to a shared process of uncovering and understanding the history, recognising the consequences of the decisions made, and the actions taken, in order to foster conditions for reconciliation with the past.
Furthermore, the terms state that the inquiry must be organised in a way that includes the involvement of citizens in both Greenland and Denmark throughout the inquiry and must be organised in a way that secures inclusion of results from existing inquiries, investigations and research projects on the relationship between Greenland and Denmark.
Cf. the terms of reference, a departmental group will be established and headed by the Department of Education, Culture, Sports and Church and the Ministry of Higher Education and Science. The principal investigator must present the project plan to the departmental group. The principal investigator must report at least every six months to the departmental group on the ongoing activities, results, and progress of the inquiry in accordance with the project plan and as well as the overall budget status. The departmental group may assist the principal investigator and the group of professionals with relevant clarifications, including e.g. archive access and unforeseen circumstances.
Greenland Research Council and Independent Research Fund Denmark asks that as far as possible, all genders are proposed as principal investigator.
The deadline for submitting proposals for principal investigator is Sunday, October 1, 2022, at 4:00 PM Greenland Time / 8:00 P.M. Danish Time.
Proposals are submitted digitally with the following documents:
In the case that two candidates, who will share the responsibility as research leader, are nominated, the above-mentioned documents must be submitted for both candidates. The candidates must be nominated one at a time via the SurveyXact link below. For both nominations, it must be stated in the comment field that the nomination is shared and the names of both candidates must be included.
Furthermore, the following information is required to submit a proposal for principal investigator: The candidate's full name as stated on the CV (correctly spelled with æ, ø, and å), year of birth, university degree, email address, position, title (ask the candidate for the preferred title), and main place of employment, if relevant. The nominator must ensure that the candidate have read the terms of reference.
Link to electronic submission of proposals
Proposals can be submitted in Greenlandic, Danish or English.
CV and list of publications
CV and list of publications can be in Greenlandic, Danish or English.
The CV (2 pages maximum) must contain the nominated persons exact organizational address and information on education, work experience, experience in project management and communication, honours, academic results, key research areas and counselling experience. The CV must not contain confidential or sensitive information, e.g. social security numbers. Periods of leave, such as maternity/paternity leave, should be stated without being specified further.
The list of publications must contain comprehensive references to the publications relevant for this research project going back ten year and preferable categorised into peer-reviewed and other scientific papers as well as stating the full number of publications.
The PDF file with the CV and list of publications should be named ‘CV-full name of the candidate.pdf’.
Declaration of consent from the candidate regarding processing of personal data
The form Declaration of consent for candidates proposed for the post of principal investigator for ‘Historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark’ is signed by the candidate, dated and scanned. The PDF-file should be named 'Consent-candidate's full name.pdf'.
It appears in the form what the signee signs for.
Candidates without declaration of consent for processing of the candidate’s personal data will not be considered for the post.
Motivation prepared by the candidate
A motivation prepared by the candidate must be sent with the proposal, with the following content:
The motivation can be in Greenlandic, Danish or English. It must be submitted as a PDF file named ‘M-full name of the candidate.pdf’.
Commitment from the organisation
If the candidate has a primary employer during the project period and when the proposal is submitted, a statement of commitment from said employer must be submitted.
This statement of commitment should be submitted as a PDF file named ‘Commitment—full name of the candidate.pdf’.
Nunatsinni Ilisimatusarnermik Siunnersuisoqatigiit (Greenland Research Council) and Independent Research Fund Denmark will give a joint recommendation for the position of principal investigator based on the submitted proposals.
Submitted documents on the candidates selected may be sent in external review if Nunatsinni Ilisimatusarnermik Siunnersuisoqatigiit (Greenland Research Council) and Independent Research Fund Denmark finds this necessary.
The joint recommendation of a small number of qualified candidates will, along with all proposed candidates, be presented to the Naalakkersuisoq for Education, Culture, Sports and Church and the Danish Minister of Higher Education and Science, who will jointly appoint the principal investigator.
Information on the processing of personal data in connection with the call for proposals for the principal investigator for the historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark can found here and furthermore in the declaration of consent “Declaration of consent for candidates proposed for the post of principal investigator for ‘Historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark’" above.
Personal data submitted to Independent Research Fund Denmark when nominating candidates will be forwarded to Greenland Research Council when processing and nominating candidates.
Questions regarding submission of candidate proposals may be directed at Administrative Officer Independent Research Fund Denmark Maria Mortensen (+45 72318180, mmor@ufm.dk) or Secretary for the Greenland Research Council Maliina Jensen (+299 361200 / +299 222090, maje@nis.gl).
Questions for the Naalakkersuisoq for Education, Culture, Sports and Church regarding the appointment of the principal investigator for the Historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark, its organisation, etc., may be directed at Special Adviser Carl Egede Bøggild (cegb@nanoq.gl).
Questions for the minister for Higher Education and Science’s appointment of the principal investigator for the Historical inquiry into the relationship between Greenland and Denmark, its organisation, etc., may be directed at Senior Consultant Max Grundtvig Haug (+45 72 31 80 34, mgha@ufm.dk).
