Magnus has been employed for as long as Miun has been a university
Almost exactly 20 years ago, Magnus Israelsson was employed at Mid Sweden University. The core issue of his research was then, as now, compulsory care of people with addiction problems.
At the age of 37, in 2005, Magnus Israelsson had just finished the social work programme he had completed at Mid Sweden University. He applied for and got a position as a doctoral student in social work just as Mid Sweden University became Mid Sweden University. Prior to his education, he had worked in LVM care and at the County Administrative Board of Jämtland County. Care for people with harmful use or addiction, and specifically compulsory care, is an issue that has followed him throughout his working life.
"I think that the coercive circumstance gives rise to interesting questions. For example, that you can care for people under duress and actually achieve improvement, provided that the content of the care is appropriate. It all started when I wrote a C-thesis in the field and that's the way it is," says Magnus.
Today, at the age of 57, he is a senior lecturer in social work and programme director for the social work programme, and he still conducts research on issues related to compulsory care.
"That kind of ethical question and legal difficulties will probably always fascinate me," he says.
Applied for a new job once
The fact that Mid Sweden University became Mid Sweden University was clearly noticeable, Magnus remembers. He had been educated at a college, which now became a university.
"It was formalized quite quickly and there was a stretch throughout the organization. For obvious reasons, of course, but it showed.
Did it feel great that it became a university? No, not the worst.
"But it was a different order, it was.
At the same time as Mid Sweden University celebrates 20 years as a university, Magnus Israelsson celebrates 20 years as an employee. Only once during those years has he applied for a new job. He got it, but finally declined.
"It was when I had a relatively new doctorate, and without a permanent position. But when I was offered a new job with another employer, things took off here, which finally meant a permanent job.
Sitting contented
Now he has no thoughts of looking elsewhere. There are many exciting things happening in academia. Magnus has also been involved in starting up the network PROWD, an interdisciplinary research network that includes nursing, education/educational sciences, psychology and social work. He sits contentedly.
So where will he be in another 20 years? 77 years old and retired with one foot left in the research world, probably.
"I can't see that I'm not still involved in research. I was also for a long time a member of the board of the Swedish Association for Alcohol and Drug Research (SAD). When I'm retired, maybe I'll continue to devote myself to such things," concludes Magnus Israelsson.