Author: Vice-Chancellor’s Blog (Page 4 of 24)

Today I, as Vice-Chancellor, decided that teaching and assessment will be conducted remotely this summer, until 30 August 2020.

At the same time, I also decided to allow disciplinary domain/faculty boards to grant certain exemptions for specific elements in exceptional circumstances. The term ‘specific elements’ means, for example, mandatory and practical tasks that cannot be carried out remotely but demand physical presence in the University’s premises or elsewhere (e.g. field trips). Exemptions may be granted on condition that measures are taken to ensure the campus-based activity can be conducted in a way that limits the risk of infection. Decisions on exemptions may be delegated to vice-rectors/deans. The students must be consulted before taking a decision.

Today’s decision also permits exemptions from the remote assessment requirement for individual students receiving special educational support, as long as it is possible to comply with the recommendations of the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the examiner considers it feasible. Our focus is on ensuring the best interests of our students, within the framework of government guidelines and Public Health Agency of Sweden recommendations.

With regard to travel and meetings, no business travel abroad will be allowed as long as the Ministry for Foreign Affairs continues to advise against travel, which is currently until 15 July. International conferences and visits are cancelled during the corresponding period. National conferences and other gatherings should preferably be held by electronic means.

At all face-to-face meetings, physical distancing must be practised and remote participation must be facilitated. My own rule of thumb would be a third of the usual number allowed in a venue.

Having said this, it is time for us to begin preparations for gradually increasing the staff presence at our workplaces again. Careful readers of the decision that takes effect on 8 June will observe that a word has changed. The decision still directs that anyone with symptoms must stay at home and that individuals in at-risk groups should work from home if possible. The rule for other staff is that they may work from home with the agreement of their manager if the work situation allows it. This should be interpreted to mean that it remains both acceptable and desirable for us to work from home part of the week (which will help reduce crowding at the workplace and on public transport), but there is an increased expectation that, in the absence of any special reasons, employees will be physically present at the workplace for parts of their working time.

Finally, a cliffhanger. We will be back in a separate post in this blog tomorrow with assessments and a decision update ahead of the autumn semester.

Yesterday the government announced a number of measures in areas that are highly relevant to us. This included a welcome announcement that an inquiry is now being appointed to make proposals on the organisation, governance and financing of research infrastructure at national level.

Research infrastructure is a topic that has been raised repeatedly by Uppsala University and other stakeholders – research funding bodies, higher education institutions and companies – in input to the research bill and in public debate. As research has grown more dependent on increasingly expensive and advanced methods and equipment, infrastructure has become a make-or-break issue for Sweden as a research nation. This area is currently underfinanced and requires a comprehensive approach to issues of governance and responsibility. Here the Principals’ Council at the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Universities’ Reference Group for Research Infrastructures at the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions have already done much to coordinate and take responsibility, but to put a new system in place, our politicians need to get involved. In our own input, we proposed the following:

• Draw up an overarching national strategy for research infrastructure, together with an associated funding strategy.

• Create long-term prerequisites for technical environments at the interface between basic research and industry.

• Invest a further SEK 1 billion to meet Sweden’s research infrastructure needs.

• Strengthen the research infrastructure at SciLifeLab.

• Take a special initiative to coordinate the national actors in digital research infrastructure.

We have not yet seen the inquiry’s terms of reference, so we mustn’t get too carried away. The inquiry chair, former Minister for Education and Research Tobias Krantz, should be well acquainted with the views of both higher education institutions and industry on research infrastructure. It is vital that the inquiry strikes the right balance and does not neglect long-term basic research for the sake of short-term benefits. Given his background in the humanities and social sciences, Mr Krantz should be able to take the needs in those fields into account as well. These are sometimes forgotten in discussions of research infrastructure. It is also positive that the inquiry has instructions to propose the organisation of a system and various funding options. We look forward to following the work of the inquiry, whose final report is due on 31 May 2021.

Another measure announced by the government yesterday is that the role of higher education institutions in lifelong learning will be clarified in the Higher Education Act. It is not clear what this means in practice, nor is it obvious that legislation as such is the best means of promoting lifelong learning. It is important to recognise that much is already being done in this area. The higher education institutions offer plenty of opportunities through numerous freestanding courses in every field of knowledge. However, these are not specifically classified as opportunities for continuing professional development and are therefore often forgotten in the debate. Besides the regular range of courses they offer, higher education institutions also conduct a great deal of contract education, i.e. specially designed courses for specific target groups. Having said that, we are naturally happy to welcome more people who need to change their professional focus or supplement their knowledge. Our role in this is self-evident. A rapidly changing labour market means increasing needs for continuing professional development, and the coronavirus pandemic has intensified the need to adapt.

In this connection, the government is also proposing an amendment to “promote academic freedom”. Needless to say, this is a crucial issue. The consultation period for these proposed legislative amendments runs until 1 September, so we will come back to these issues.

We would like to thank all students, staff, alumni, friends and partners for heeding our – and all of Uppsala’s – appeal to act responsibly on 30 April. A few months ago, no one would have believed a Walpurgis Eve in Uppsala could pass almost unnoticed like this. But the fact that we took responsibility together and avoided crowding this holiday was an important action, for the vulnerable, health services staff and society in general. You will all be welcome on 30 April 2021.

Today the decision to conduct education remotely was extended to apply for the rest of the semester, until 7 June. To ensure the best possible decision about arrangements in the summer, we expect to take a fresh decision in the second half of May, and then at some point in the summer we will decide about the start of the autumn semester. Although everyone likes to plan ahead, we think it is wise to avoid committing ourselves in the longer term; the virus situation and infection control measures can change in a few weeks/months.

If, as we all hope, the restrictions are relaxed and education on campus becomes fully or partially possible again, the return to campus will be managed in a sensible and practicable manner, taking local conditions in the University into account. This kind of flexibility will enable us, as a university, to make use of our experiences and lessons learned from this very demanding period. It may help us develop the quality of our educational programmes, for example, by choosing to retain digital elements that have proved preferable, while making the most of the important face-to-face interactions on campus.

None of us will forget this year, but if we can persevere and then, in the summer, find time for reflection and inspiration, our University can emerge from the crisis with renewed ambition and with wind in our sails.

Yesterday’s meeting of the University Board contained not only, as always, discussions on a number of important issues for the future of the University but also a farewell to several members whose term of office ends on 30 April – including the departing chair, Gudmund Hernes, who has guided the work of the board with a steady hand since 2017. Sincere and heartfelt thanks to them!

Today, at the eleventh hour, the government appointed the eight external members who will serve on the University Board for a three-year period starting on 1 May. We are delighted to welcome our new chair Anne Ramberg and the other new members. They will bring valuable new experience to the board. We look forward with confidence and anticipation to working with them. A partial renewal of the University Board means something of a fresh start and opens the way for innovation, while the remaining members have a very important role in guaranteeing continuity.

The new members of the University Board are:
Anne Ramberg, member and former Secretary General of the Swedish Bar Association, Stockholm, chair
Svante Pääbo, Professor, Max Planck Institute, Leipzig
Linus Tunström, Director, Stockholm
Johan Söderström, Director, ABB, Västerås

Friday began with a specially convened meeting with local, regional and national-level Uppsala politicians. At the previous meeting, a wish was expressed to meet more often, and we were happy to agree to this. It’s good to have the opportunity to report the latest news from the University, whether successes or challenges, and the politicians asked good and relevant questions. They are keen to be involved and willing to lend their support where necessary. For example, we pointed out the importance of a long-term approach to research funding. Initiatives to support coronavirus-related research are extremely timely and welcome, but it’s important not to forget the need for ongoing broad investments to manage future challenges.

In more than one area, more frequent meetings are one obvious consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. It is essential to listen to one another in order to quickly identify appropriate measures. Currently, we have a closer dialogue with the Ministry of Education and Research and the Minister, which is positive and productive. To give one example, medical students’ insurance did not cover COVID-19 but this was quickly remedied, and our impression is that there is a receptiveness to our needs. Those of us in the University Management feel a similar need to put our ear to the ground and listen to what’s going on within our University.

We therefore ended the day with an informal Zoom meeting with heads of department. We have realised that virtual meetings are a model that has probably come to stay and will remain more common than previously. More people can participate and the meetings can be kept short and efficient. Our topic today was international students, an area where there are many questions. It’s good to be made aware of questions, even if we can’t answer them all, and it’s useful to get an up-to-date picture of the situation in the academic departments. We were able to give a reassuring answer on one point. The University stands on a stable financial foundation. Together, we will certainly be able later to deal with any extra costs that may arise this year.

The Spring Budget Bill presented by the Swedish government today proposes an increase of SEK 513 million in direct government funding for universities and other higher education institutions. There is no decision yet on how this money will be divided between HEIs, but this will be announced in the near future. The funding is primarily intended for temporary places on summer courses and foundation (access) years, but will also include permanent places.
The government also proposes to allocate approximately SEK 100 million to a special research initiative linked to the COVID-19 virus. These funds will be distributed by the Swedish Research Council. This is another important investment in which we have good prospects of sharing. Our University has several outstanding research teams in this area.

We have indicated that we will be happy to welcome new students as early as this summer, so we look forward to news about the allocation of places. Opening up future opportunities for more people is a responsibility we are happy to take on at this time of uncertainty in the labour market. For many people, an extra opportunity for education and training can be the way to a new direction in working life.

At this time when travel and physical meetings are impossible and the focus is on the near at hand, it is important still to look beyond the coronavirus and its consequences and remember our partners in other cities and countries. Our exchanges and collaborations are important for the University’s development and need to continue. As far as possible, we will continue with what we are doing, while drawing on our new experiences to find creative and innovative ways to work in the future.

For my part, this is a week full of virtual meetings. Yesterday we ‘met’ the management of Lund University and discussed common issues. This morning, a staff meeting at Campus Gotland. Tomorrow the EUA holds its General Assembly, involving hundreds of participants, and on Friday it will be time for the General Assembly of the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions. That day starts with breakfast with politicians and ends with coffee with the University’s heads of department – in all cases via Zoom or a similar tool.

This week, the regional crisis collaboration group also met. Material collected by the University is benefitting the health services, and for the most part, things are ticking along in our new ‘abnormal normality’. However, we noted that we need to help one another stick to the restrictions that are in effect and not let up when it begins to feel like an everyday situation. When we get to the other side of all this, we will evaluate and learn lessons from what we have done.

While the world finds itself in a kind of state of emergency, time continues on its way. Easter is approaching and signs of spring are increasingly obvious. Now, with a few days’ holiday coming up, it’s important to keep up the good habits we have learned: stay at home if you have any symptoms, wash your hands, keep your distance. But still, let’s try to enjoy the light, the fresh greenery and the blackbird’s song as well.

The adaptation of our education and research has gone better than expected. Other activities at the University are also affected. We are postponing the spring conferment ceremony until November, when it will replace the inauguration of professors, while we will celebrate the University’s new professors doubly in 2021. The planning of virtual Valborg activities is in full swing, and the cancellation of Almedalen Week is changing many people’s plans, particularly at Campus Gotland. There is also positive news. Speedy and generous funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation will enable SciLifeLab to take a comprehensive approach and coordinate research on every conceivable aspect of the ongoing pandemic.

Alongside the impact on our work, the coronavirus looms larger in our lives. Many know someone who is ill or has been hit hard economically. For some, life will never be the same again. The consequences for society as a whole are difficult to foresee. We who work at Uppsala University come from all over the world and probably react in rather different ways, depending on our previous experiences and the social systems we are accustomed to. All of us are following national and international developments, via various news sources. There is a lively debate about which measures are effective and which are not. The disparities between the responses of different countries cause uncertainty and frustration. Let us tackle this together and help one another whenever help is needed. Here you will find corona-related information.

We wish you all a good Easter break.

Yesterday afternoon a large batch of protective equipment went from Uppsala University to Uppsala University Hospital. Many departments and research teams have been keen to contribute and now the material has gone where it is needed most right now. More deliveries are expected next week. We are proud of the responsibility and willingness to help everyone at the University has shown.

On Thursday and Friday it was time for the spring overnight conference with heads of department, which was held remotely this year via Zoom. Several important issues were on the agenda and working in groups in virtual group rooms proved more successful than expected, though I am sure we all missed the networking that takes place between sessions when we meet in real life.

We started on Thursday with a productive session on dilemmas, led by Professor of Practical Philosophy Folke Tersman. Heads of department bear the ultimate responsibility for their department’s activities and not infrequently, this means they end up in situations that are far from easy to resolve. In his presentation, Professor Tersman emphasised the importance of preparation when confronting a difficult decision and gave some practical advice.

• Look into the legal aspects of the matter, as well as ethical guidelines and fundamental values
• Identify which values and principles are in conflict
• Try to be creative about possible solutions
• Take time to listen to colleagues, but make your own decision and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

Professor Tersman suggested giving heads of department a chance to practice arguing for and against in situations in which values come into conflict with one another, and practice in standing up for their own assessment. It was an interesting session and valuable to bear in mind during the rest of the day, which focused on our ongoing projects on the role of head of department, careers, teaching and learning qualifications, and appointments. It was important that we were able to bring the breadth of our University to bear on these closely associated issues and had an opportunity to exchange ideas. We believe this will make for a better outcome.

Managing to recruit and retain the best staff is crucial for continued success and at the end of the year we will have new appointment regulations that will underpin these efforts. Project manager Ann Fust presented the work to date and highlighted some of the key issues they are wrestling with. One such issue is how the University should best deal with its many research appointments, which offer little security and few career opportunities. There will be more opportunities to discuss the contents of the proposed new appointment regulations, which will be presented to the University Board in June before the final report in the summer.

Yesterday’s programme began with an overview of University-wide issues, presented by the University Management. The annual report provides us with a welcome stable foundation for the operational planning process, which recently began, and where we aim to stick to the timetable and provide a stable budgetary framework for the University’s operations. The University’s positive development allows us to press steadily onward, despite the extremely uncertain social situation caused by COVID-19. We had a chance to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has worked hard to keep things going, despite the transition to virtual activities, and we took up some of the questions that have come from different parts of the University. With regard to distance education, we were able to reassure everyone that we will not be deciding on an abrupt return to on-campus instruction. That transition, when it becomes possible, must proceed in an orderly manner, at the time that is most appropriate for the particular course or programme.

The next session dealt with the implementation of the University’s Mission, Goals and Strategies, where the disciplinary domains will receive instructions from the Vice-Chancellor to develop relevant indicators for follow-up together with the faculties and departments. These indicators are intended to support implementation, not to serve as a basis for allocating resources. Plenty of time is being allowed – proposals are to be delivered to the Vice-Chancellor in May 2021. It is important that the indicators have broad acceptance after thorough discussion at local level.

We went on to have a good look at the progress on the new premises plan. The proposal will contain some common principles for rent and vacancies and a model consisting of three-year plans based on more long-term plans drawn up by the disciplinary domain boards. The proposal will soon be referred for comments by 15 September.

The final item in this, our first marathon Zoom meeting of heads of department, was led by Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on Good Research Practice Stefan Eriksson. He talked about the factors that best support a creative and successful research environment, based on studies on the subject. Supportive leadership, a cooperative climate and good infrastructure are examples of favourable factors, while pressure and competition can have negatve effects. Discussion sessions in smaller groups in separate Zoom breakout rooms helped to identify further interesting aspects of the issue, such as the link between staff turnover and research environment, and the role of introductory programmes.

Our thanks to everyone for your commitment and involvement, which reinforce our joint efforts for the future of Uppsala University!

Following the rapid and radical change that the transition to distance education required, we are beginning to discern the contours of a new normality. Many of us are working remotely, fewer are on campus. We’re keeping our distance and washing our hands. As more people fall ill, the government may impose more restrictions, and these are likely to affect our activities. We need to be prepared for more widespread sickness absence.

The most important thing now is staying power. This situation will continue for some time. Yesterday we took a decision to extend the measures we have previously announced until 15 May. The decision also contained two new measures.

From now on, our campus premises will be open to anyone who has a card and code, but not to the public. Also, the previous decision on a maximum of 100 people for conferences and meetings at the University no longer applies; instead, meetings should primarily be held remotely. At any remaining physical meetings, social distancing will apply, i.e., fewer participants in larger rooms. And it must always be possible to participate remotely.

While all this is going on, planning is already under way for next year. Yesterday morning we had an extended Management Council meeting (just under half the people in the room, the others via Zoom) to begin the process of drafting an operational plan for 2021. As far as possible, we are aiming to stick to the existing conditions for planning and established principles. We believe this is best for the University, particularly in the present situation.

Several members of the Faculty of Medicine will be increasing their engagement in health and medical care; in this emergency situation, research has to take a back seat. We are proud of their great sense of responsibility and their willingness to help. Those of you who are contributing knowledge in various public connections are also doing important work. You are needed alongside the public authorities when anxiety is growing and people are trying to understand what is happening.

We call on you all at this time to keep going and stay strong. Even if the situation is becoming normal in some sense, it’s important not to relax. The world and Sweden are in an exceptional situation and our ability to continue to keep our distance and reduce the spread of infection is our joint responsibility. Help one another and don’t forget to get in touch with people who have no family and friends nearby.

Yesterday afternoon, the government issued a press release proposing a number of measures in the area of education. Already last week, Uppsala University signalled that we can admit more people to summer courses, expand certain programmes, the foundation year and the number of places in distance education. As a university, we will naturally help and contribute in every way we can.