Author: Eva Åkesson (Page 4 of 5)

(Originally posted in Swedish on 7 November 2016.)

Today the University’s Management Council visited the University of Oslo. It was a stimulating visit. It’s inspiring and useful to hear what other universities do. We can also see that we have more in common than we have differences. Many of the challenges are the same, such as recruitment, career development positions, research infrastructure and internationalisation.

Just like Uppsala, the University of Oslo is a broad, multidisciplinary university. We share the same values of academic freedom and the university’s role in society, and will be partners in the new European network, the Guild. We already engage in extensive cooperation now and have identified further potential areas for cooperation, such as antibiotic resistance and languages.

I would like to say a big thank you to Rector Ole Petter Ottersen for a fine programme. We look forward to continued cooperation and hope to meet again soon. We promise you a warm welcome in Uppsala!

(Originally posted in Swedish on 3 November 2016.)

Over the past two days I participated in “Working Group: New Goals”, a meeting in Stockholm of the working group developing new goals ahead of the next ministerial meeting in the Bologna Process/EHEA, which will take place in Paris in 2018. The theme for the first day was Competencies and the theme for the second day was Digitalisation, when one of the speakers was Alastair Creelman from Linnaeus University, whose topic was “What is the role and impact of digitalisation on higher education? How can it be used to support teaching and learning at institutions, at the same time widening the access to higher education?”

Part of the presentation was “MOOCs – the story so far”. MOOCs obviously come in various forms and have various purposes. Not all of them are massive, and not all of them are open. They may be intended as a teaser for an educational programme or as part of lifelong learning, and various hybrid models are being developed. Uppsala University is currently offering three MOOCs, the first of which, on antibiotic resistance, has just ended. But the second MOOC, Climate Change Leadership, starts on Monday – take the opportunity to try a MOOC if you haven’t done so yet, you can log in now. I can tell you, they’re rather addictive, right now I’m following a MOOC at Glasgow University on “The Right to Education: Breaking Down the Barriers.”

The meeting gave a feeling of déjà vu, particularly when State Secretary Karin Röding opened the meeting and welcomed us. I was most active in the Bologna Process 8 or 10 years ago, as a Bologna promoter, Bologna expert and national academic contact point (NACP) for quality assurance (QA). Karin Röding was a director at the Government Offices at the time and very active in these issues, perhaps most significantly through her work on the government bill “New world – new university”, which tackled three areas:

• Making higher education more international and more attractive.
• A clearer, internationally comparable degree system.
• Fairer, clearer and simpler admission rules.

It was in 2007 that Swedish higher education was given a three-level structure: first, second and third cycle. New degree descriptions were also introduced, specifying goals/expected learning outcomes, specialisation requirements defined in numbers of credits and qualitative requirements, and the exact number of credits required for degrees. I’m sure many of you remember how we had to define the level of all courses unambiguously in terms of goals/expected learning outcomes. All the syllabuses, everywhere in Sweden, were rewritten, masses of Master programmes were created and I talked about ‘Master mania’. The term ‘poäng’ (credit) was replaced by ‘högskolepoäng’ (higher education credit) and a standard academic year was defined as 60 higher education credits. I still feel grateful for the conversion table we were given that helped us to convert 1 credit to 1.5 higher education credits, 5 credits to 7.5 higher education credits – we’d never have managed without that table.

Perhaps I should write a few lines about the Bologna Process in general while I’m at it, it’s easy to take it for granted that everyone was there and remembers all about it. The Bologna Process is a European initiative launched by the Bologna Declaration, which was signed by 29 ministers in 1999. The overall goal was to make Europe more attractive, and to promote mobility and employability – a much debated concept. The operational goals were the adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees, the introduction of a system consisting principally of three educational levels (cycles) and a system of credits, and the promotion of mobility, European cooperation in quality assurance and the European dimension in higher education. Other areas were gradually added, such as lifelong learning, the social dimension.

Today, 48 countries participate, ministerial meetings are held at longer intervals and the Bologna Process doesn’t have the intensity and tempo that it did ten years ago. Nonetheless, it’s a tool that we can use for working on higher education issues in Europe, we have a common arena and we have a language that enables us to pursue development together – and this mustn’t be underestimated.

(Original Swedish post published 25 October, English version published 8 November.)

Today I took a decision adopting Uppsala University’s model for educational evaluation, guidelines and financing. Many people have paved the way for this decision over a period of several years. For instance, the CrED panel, which proposed it back in 2012, and the working group I appointed on 14 March 2015 with instructions to present proposals on a model for systematic educational evaluation at Uppsala University. The working group, led by Vice-Rector Torsten Svensson, submitted its proposals to the Vice-Chancellor on 1 March 2016. These proposals were then circulated for comment to disciplinary domain boards/faculty boards, student unions, the University Library and the University Administration, which all contributed constructive proposals on improvements.

The Quality Council, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Anders Malmberg, has shepherded the proposal through to today’s decision, with Åsa Kettis and Maria Wolters giving expert guidance all along the way. One of the reasons we are now taking this step is that the Swedish Higher Education Authority has changed its evaluations and in future will examine quality assurance work at higher education institutions rather than evaluating programmes as it used to do. To facilitate implementation, I have also decided that close to SEK 12 million will be set aside to finance the work of the disciplinary domains on the model for educational evaluation. Initially, in 2017, the disciplinary domains will start out with pilot projects and within a period of six years all programmes are planned to have undergone systematic quality assurance and quality enhancement.

You’ll have to excuse me, I simply have to present the whole decision.

Today I, as Vice-Chancellor, decided:

To establish guidelines for Uppsala University’s model for educational evaluation.

That domain/faculty boards are to:

– develop modes and routines for systematic quality assurance and quality enhancement of the domain’s or the faculty’s education from an all-round perspective, including annual follow-up and educational evaluation;

– conduct and report on at least one educational evaluation pilot project per disciplinary domain in 2017 (see the decision Pilot round of educational evaluations 2017);

– evaluate all education in the domain/faculty over a six-year cycle (2017–2022);

– actively contribute to experience and knowledge exchange on quality assurance and enhancement across faculty and domain boundaries (contribute evaluators to other faculties/domains and to organised and informal experience exchange);

– submit to the Vice-Chancellor by 16 June 2017 a provisional plan for all educational evaluations in the six-year cycle 2017–2022;

– report to the Vice-Chancellor by 28 February 2018 the domain’s or faculty’s modes and routines for educational evaluation and annual follow-up;

– submit to the Vice-Chancellor by 20 February 2018 a detailed description of the domain’s or faculty’s modes and routines for quality assurance and quality enhancement in education. These descriptions will be incorporated in the quality assurance and enhancement programme when it is revised;

– conduct, during the first half of 2020, a simplified evaluation of (i) quality assurance and enhancement efforts in the domain/faculty, with a focus on modes and routines for annual follow-up and educational evaluation, and (ii) university-wide support, so that routines and methods can be improved even in the course of the current six-year cycle. The evaluation is to cover the perspectives of all concerned (domain/faculty board, other persons responsible for education, teachers and other staff involved in education, and students). Results and proposed measures are to be presented in brief to the Vice-Chancellor by 30 June 2020.

That the above evaluation within domains/faculties is to be followed by revision of the university-wide guidelines if necessary.

That central university support will be evaluated by at least two external colleagues and at least one internal colleague from each disciplinary domain within the framework of the six-year cycle.

That the University Director is to ensure appropriate central university support, including: knowledge support in the design of evaluations and follow-up (including written recommendations); implementation of student barometer surveys and an annual conference; compilation of a quality report; and development of key indicators as a basis for educational follow-up.

(Original Swedish post published 7 October, English version published 9 November.)

This week the winners of this year’s Nobel prizes for scientific discoveries for the “benefit of humanity” were revealed. It’s always just as exciting. Now we know who will receive the Nobel prizes in medicine, physics and chemistry. On Monday the winner of the economics prize will be announced and on Thursday next week we will know who will receive the literature prize. We have been ready to contact the prizewinners the moment they’re announced, inviting them to lecture here in Uppsala on 13 December, as is the tradition. This year we have high hopes. Several prizewinners have links with Uppsala. The winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, from Tokyo Tech, visited the University two years ago. One of the prizewinners in chemistry, Bernard L. Feringa, comes from Groningen, one of our partner universities in the U4 network.

This week we had a visit from a delegation from Tübingen, one of our sister universities in the Matariki network. A group of no less than 17 people, spearheaded by the Vice-Chancellor, visited us for three days. They met us in the management, the vice-rectors, fellow researchers and parts of the administration. Talking to colleagues about what we do is useful and opens up new perspectives on our own activities.

The deans meeting also gave us new perspectives. Once a term, the whole management, vice-rectors, all the deans, students and parts of the administration have a lunch-to-lunch meeting. This time we were at Stora Brännbo Conference & Hotel in Sigtuna. It gave us a chance to talk about current concerns. The meeting was kicked off by future analyst Troed Troedsson, who set the tone of the meeting with a challenging and inspiring lecture on the future. How should we, as a university, meet a changing world in which competition is increasing? How are we to maintain and strengthen our position? How are we to renew our activities, seek and explore new opportunities? What can we do in the short and the long term?

We continued to think about the future in terms of availability of premises and a development plan for the University for 2050, but also infrastructure issues. The agenda also included the way we work on strategic skills provision, recruitment and the procedure for appointing a Vice-Chancellor at the University, as well as a session on the lessons Uppsala University can learn from the Macchiarini affair. As usual, the discussions were very stimulating, spirited and useful. A free and open atmosphere, sharp arguments and many different opinions. This is good for Uppsala University – in the short and the long term.

Today, on 7 October, our University is 539 years old, and I’m off to Mora to open the exhibition “Art treasures from Uppsala University”. With the University Main Building closed for renovations, we’re taking the opportunity to exhibit our art at the Zorn Museum, between 8 October 2016 and 5 March 2017.  Never before have so many important works of art from Uppsala University been sent on loan to an exhibition. One theme explored in the exhibition is the many links between the artist Anders Zorn and Uppsala, its university and its art collection. The exhibition is a joint project between the Zorn Museum and Gustavianum, the Uppsala University museum.

A visit to the Zorn Museum this winter is a must, is what I have to say after the opening. Our art treasures can be seen literally in a new light and I really can recommend a visit warmly. Many thanks to all of you who have made this possible.

Now I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a good weekend! For me, it’s the Student Run tomorrow, I’ll be doing 5 km at a gentle amble, but University Director Katarina Bjelke will be doing 10 km at a completely different pace.

Scholars At Risk (SAR) is an international network of universities and individuals who work together to harbour threatened academics, avert attacks and safeguard academic freedom and related values. Uppsala University has been a member of SAR for some time, and earlier this month, SAR – Sweden was launched at a seminar in Gothenburg. So far, the network consists of 11 seats of learning, but more will follow.

Ola Larsmo of PEN gave an appreciated lecture where he related his experiences as a writer-in-residence. He praised Uppsala University for harbouring a blogger from Bangladesh facing death threats. Amidst increasing global unrest, with difficult conflicts that threaten to encroach upon freedom of speech and academic autonomy, these questions are made all the more important. One way of shouldering our responsibility is to actively participate in SAR, but also to cooperate with PEN and other like-minded organisations.

Founding Statement

Launch of Scholars at Risk – Sweden Section

On behalf of the Swedish members of the Scholars at Risk Network, we declare the official launch of Scholars at Risk– Sweden Section, this March 9, 2016 at the University of Gothenburg. Scholars at Risk– Sweden Section is a partnership between Swedish higher education institutions and Scholars at Risk (SAR), an international network of higher education institutions dedicated to promoting academic freedom and defending the human rights of scholars worldwide.  In joining Scholars at Risk, Swedish academic leadership, faculty, students and staff send a strong message of solidarity with scholars and universities in situations where academic freedom is restricted and research, publication, teaching and learning are repressed. Together with Scholars at Risk members at more than 400 institutions in 40 countries around the world, we hope to make a difference.

This autumn, the University Board ratified the Programme for Sustainable Development. In the interest of strengthening collaboration and improving the exchange of experience within our University, I have appointed Anna Rutgersson as an adviser to the Vice-Chancellor for sustainability issues, starting 1 March. Anna is a professor of meteorology at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology. With a dedicated adviser for these important issues, it is my hope that the new Programme and Action Plan for Sustainable Development will receive the attention they deserve.

This Tuesday, we held a well-attended management meeting to discuss the Management Evaluation that was recently referred to us for consideration. The theme of the dean meeting was: how well does formal and informal management on the level of the departments work at Uppsala University? Kåre Bremer of the Management Evaluation opened the management meeting by outlining the most important issues. The resulting discussions were rewarding, and it is great that Kåre was able to participate and clarify certain parts of the evaluation.

The week concluded with me and the chairman of Uppsala Municipality signing a declaration of intent for a strategic partnership. In the press release, I state: ‘The Municipality is an important collaborative partner on many levels; in education, research, culture and much else. Cross-border collaborations often produce new knowledge that can contribute to solutions to the challenges of society. We also have a strong common interest in developing the region and increasing the attraction of the city’. It is good to see us expanding the collaboration between Uppsala University and the Municipality further, and focusing on specific areas of intervention.

Together with Professor Maria Strömme of Uppsala University, I (Eva) spent much of last week on a RTM (Royal Technology Mission) to Japan. The RTM involved a delegation of 30 people headed by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and the praeses of IVA, Leif Johansson. The delegation consisted of representatives of the private sector, the public sector, and the University. The group was a diverse mix of people, and interesting conversations abounded. Every year, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) organises a trip abroad, but over the last few years, there have also been RTM trips within Sweden. The next domestic RTM is set to visit Gotland in autumn 2016.

The trip included a visit to the university, that is, Tokyo University and Tokyo Women’s Medical University. Furthermore, several renowned Japanese companies like Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Canon, Fuji were gracious enough to receive our RTM delegation. We also toured the future museum Miraikan, Buddhist temples, and the 600 meter tall TV tower Sky Tree. In all, we had a rewarding few days, made particularly informative by lectures held by delegates during the bus rides leading up to every visit, and corresponding summaries afterwards. As you might have gleaned, they were also quite intense days, with a busy but well-planned schedule that was carried out with impressive precision down to the minute, almost to the second.

2015 has been a dramatic year internationally, with wars, refugee crises, terrorism and looming climate change. These issues both affect and engage Sweden—and Uppsala University—in a multitude of ways. In our Mission Statement, we say that the overall objective of Uppsala University is to gain and disseminate knowledge for the benefit of humankind and a better world. We have a moral responsibility, and many people at our University have contributed their expert knowledge.

At the same time, we continue the important day-to-day work of ensuring that both education and research, as the long-term societal investments they are, can be provided the necessary means for the future. Many people have contributed to this:

• Kristina Edström led the work on the University’s input on the upcoming research bill, which resulted in ten recommendations for the Swedish Government.
• Torsten Svensson leads the work on drafting the framework for our University’s upcoming educational evaluation system.
• Hans Ellegren conducted a follow-up assessment of our previous two research evaluations (Quality and Renewal 07 and 11) and pointed the way for the new evaluation (Q&R 17) to be launched next year.
• Mats Larhed heads a team tasked with improving our career system in various ways, not the least of which being how to increase the amount of merited appointments.

To us in the University Management, some of the most pressing matters are those relating to the University’s autonomy and strategic integrity and how we, in the long term, can affect our own development. These questions are crucial when we claim ownership of quality issues against the government. They are also vital when we argue for the need for increased economic freedom of action (that is, increased direct state funding) in order to effectively conduct the strategic renewal requested both by ourselves and other stakeholders. They are also recurrent in the discussions on university governance which have intensified in the wake of Kåre Bremer’s recent report, currently referred to us for consideration.

Uppsala University continues to do well. Our educational programmes and courses remain highly popular. The number of international students from outside Europe is growing steadily. We were named the Student City of the Year in 2015. Our research revenue is increasing, and we keep our position among the top 100 universities in the international rankings. This December, a new type of ranking of the world’s most influential universities was published, based on the quantity of Wikipedia references in 24 different languages. Uppsala University shows up on this exclusive list as number 15 world-wide!

Inside and between our faculties and departments, exciting interdisciplinary research collaborations are increasing—antibiotics, medicinal technology, migration, racism and labour market research are examples of such boundary-spanning areas. The University has launched new policy programmes for sustainable development and internationalisation. We hosted the National Equal Opportunity Conference. We have initiated projects on active student participation and ways of using our cultural heritage as a pedagogic resource. An evaluation of the organisation of Campus Gotland found that there are many positive developments, but also that some organizational issues would benefit from fresh approaches.

We are broadening and strengthening our collaboration with industry and society. Our relationship to the County Council and Uppsala University Hospital is under constant development. Earlier this year, we entered a strategic partnership with ABB and are planning several similar agreements, for instance with the City of Uppsala. Uppsala Health Summit took on antibiotic resistance this year, drawing participants from 33 countries. The cultural collaboration project The Good City, with seminars, workshops, walking tours of the city and ten sold-out performances of West Side Story, captured the attention of many private and public actors in Uppsala. More than 8000 people came to the Elton John concert in the Botanical Garden. Our collaborative partners IK Sirius Fotboll and Uppsala Basket had their best seasons in years. In addition, the University Management defeated SLU (the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) in the Uppsala Academic Rowing Race!

As the University evolves, new premises are needed. We are pleased to see the law students enjoy their new location in the Munken Block, and that the Humanist Theatre in the English Park is on the verge of becoming a reality. The Segerstedt Building is coming along well, and the planning of the Ångström IV is underway. Campus Gamla Torget is undergoing reconstructive work, and in February, renovations are set to begin on the University Main Building. There has also been great progress in the way we plan for and prioritise among new investments in research infrastructure, within Uppsala University as well as nationally.

Uppsala University attracts a good deal of attention in old and new media alike. Some news stories stick out and get global coverage, like the news about the correlation between asthma in children and exposure to dogs, as well as the life expectancy calculator (sometimes referred to as the ‘death test’). It was also great to listen to Maria Strømme and her episode of the popular Swedish summer radio show Sommar i P1. She planted the notion of nanotechnology in the collective Swedish consciousness. Another highlight was the Nobel laureates’ traditional Lucia visit to Uppsala. But our 102-year-old alumnus Gösta Vestlund was perhaps the guest of honour who attracted the most media attention during that occasion.

Through travels and meetings, we promote the University internationally. A collaboration between six Swedish universities entitled SACF (the Swedish Academic Collaboration Forum) involved several trips abroad, for instance to China and South Korea. Sweden’s strong reputation as innovative opens new paths to collaborative ventures. We visited the US to strengthen the bonds with friends and alumni. Back home, we have enjoyed a rapid succession of visits.

This turned out to be quite a long annual chronicle, with reflections both large and small, but then again, many things happen in one year across our broad University. The University owes its fantastic achievements to its competent and devoted staff as well as its talented and ambitious students. It is a privilege to work with and for you all!

Now, a well-deserved holiday break awaits us all, after which we will resume our common goal of advancing Uppsala University’s positions further in 2016!

Eva Åkesson

Anders Malmberg

Katarina Bjelke

Stellan Sandler

Torsten Svensson

Johan Tysk

The third Excellence Seminar of the Swedish Academic Collaboration is now over, held in Shanghai this time. The previous two took place in Korea and Singapore, and more seminars are scheduled for spring 2016 in Brazil and Indonesia. Six Swedish universities are collaborating on these seminars in order to achieve greater visibility and impact than any one of us could accomplish individually. This project, which is supported by STINT, will naturally be evaluated after the fact. However, impressions so far seem favourable just from speaking with our own attending researchers. Themes this time around: Ageing society, Material science, Sustainable development, University management and Education.

We also found the time for a joint alumni event with Lund University in Shanghai, which was greatly appreciated, and drew many visitors from far away.

Now, we and our partners are considering the possibility of arranging something coordinated and more long-term in Japan. As any regular reader of this blog knows, Anders Malmberg took part in a Swedish delegation to Japan earlier this autumn and we in turn have received several large Japanese delegations in the last few years. IVA will embark on a RTM (Royal Technology Mission) to Japan this spring, which I and Professor Maria Strömme will participate in. I am pleased that we are collaborating more with other Swedish universities on the global stage.

Last week came to a tragic end. The festivities surrounding the Inauguration of Professors and the banquet at Uppsala Castle were nearly over when news of the atrocious terrorist attacks in Paris reached us. Our thoughts go out to all those affected. Uppsala University has close ties to France and maintains student exchange programmes with several French universities. Yesterday, the University flew the flag at half mast, and last night, the dome of the Gustavianum was lit with the shades of the Tricolour in condemnation of the incident and in sympathy with France and the victims.

In times like these, the gravity of the University’s tasks are thrown into sharp relief—to educate, research and collaborate. To offer our knowledge in the fight against societal issues, for a better world. One of the tools in this fight is the international collaborations that Uppsala University engages in at every level of the University.

Yesterday, the U4 network came together in Uppsala. That is, Gröningen, Göttingen, Gent and Uppsala. We are four European universities with many similarities, who already enjoy fruitful collaboration in research and in other common issues such as academic leadership and internationalisation. Tonight, I (Eva) will travel to Shanghai to attend a seminar together with researchers from Uppsala University and representatives of five other Swedish universities as part of SACF, the Swedish Academic Collaboration Forum.