Danny Crookes appointed honorary doctor at Mid Sweden University
For 20 years, Danny Crookes has had a relationship with Mid Sweden University and followed the university's development in research and collaboration. Now he has been appointed honorary doctor – an award he describes as both surprising and honorable.
Danny Crookes, professor emeritus at Queen's University Belfast, made his first contact with Mid Sweden University 20 years ago when he was invited to be an opponent for a doctoral student of Mattias O'Nils.
At that time, Crookes himself was involved in the construction of the research institute ECIT at Queen's University. The institute combined research in communication technology and IT with a focus on industrial relevance and collaboration. A few years later, he saw similarities between this way of working and the new Transtech environment that was planned at Mid Sweden University.
- My experience of creating and promoting this new way of working was relevant to what Professor Mattias O'Nils and his team were planning. Therefore, I gladly accepted their invitation to become a member of Transtech's reference group, says Danny Crookes.
Since then, Crookes has continued to follow Mid Sweden University's development and has been particularly impressed by the university's strategic work and contacts with the business community.
- I have been particularly impressed by the strategic vision and leadership that the STC team has maintained. The team has developed significant contacts with industry partners and financiers. They have pioneered this new multidisciplinary and industrially relevant way of working in Sweden and have developed the concept to full maturity.
The importance of international collaborations
For Crookes, international contacts are an important part of the universities' development. Through collaborations with the right partners, universities can both exchange experiences and strengthen their position in international research.
I was surprised and honored to receive the offer of the award. Although I am in the final stages of my career, I was particularly happy because the award is proof that Mid Sweden University values STC's work and achievements for many years.
- International collaboration with the right partners can help share best practices and create a more outward-looking research culture. It can also bring partners like Mid Sweden University to the forefront of international research and make them known among influential actors in Europe and beyond.
Crookes describes becoming an honorary doctor at Mid Sweden University as a recognition that means a lot.
- I was surprised and honored to receive the offer of the award. Even though I am in the final stages of my career, I was especially happy because the award is proof that Mid Sweden University values STC's work and achievements for many years.
Seeing changes in research
When Crookes looks ahead, he sees a world of research that continues to change, not least through AI. He believes that technological development will affect which research questions will be relevant in the future.
- The use of AI will bring some fundamental changes to the research questions that researchers are working on. It is important to be at the forefront of these changes rather than avoiding them.
At the same time, he sees opportunities for universities and research environments that are prepared to adapt to developments.
- But STC has already started preparing for this new world and is in a position to be a valuable partner in future collaborative projects.
More information
Danny will give his inaugural lecture on 1/10 at 13.55 - 14.15 in Lubbesalen. In his lecture, he will share his experiences from academia, but also send lessons learned for the next 50 years. Read more here.