Author: Vice-Chancellor’s Blog (Page 5 of 24)

A week or so ago, nobody knew the University would manage in just 24 hours to reorganise its activities and make changes that would normally take months or years. A quantum leap into the future. Of course, distance education is nothing new, but it was vital that preparations had been made for a possible announcement of immediate reorganisation. Suddenly we are in the midst of digital reality, no doubt a bit dazed and weary after working so hard – but you did it and everything is working far better than expected. We have not cancelled everything and shut up shop: we have reorganised our teaching at record speed and are now a digitalised university for 46,000 students. You who have achieved this are all heroes. Thanks also to all the students who are helping one another and supporting our efforts to spread information.

Keep up the good and creative work. It is a matter of keeping going by our combined efforts. The important thing now is to continue to follow the recommendations: stay at home if you feel at all under the weather, keep your distance to one another when you meet and wash your hands. In these respects we must all, without exception, set a good example. If you are among those at risk, you should try to work from home, while the rest of us can do so if and when it is possible and appropriate given our duties. We will need staying power – this situation can be expected to last for a good while to come.

Many people at the University are signalling that they want to contribute in the fight against the coronavirus. This is pleasing. It goes without saying that we must do what we can to help. Our University has protective equipment, analytical laboratories, pharmaceuticals and expertise in medicine and many other areas. There are many creative ideas and they are more than welcome. Having said that, it is important that the help is well coordinated so that it is channelled to where it is needed most. Groups of students have also offered their assistance, for example by helping school pupils to achieve learning outcomes in subjects such as languages and mathematics.

On Friday those of us in the University’s management team met politicians from the Uppsala region and county governor Göran Enander. Everyone agreed that we have to take a coordinated approach to the needs. The best way to contact us at the University is via the registrar at registrator@uu.se. In addition to material and medical expertise, the knowledge of social scientists is in demand to address the complex economic consequences for society. This weekend, we received welcome news from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation that they are allocating SEK 50 million for increased analysis of coronavirus tests at SciLifeLab, Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet to assist the health services in scaling up testing. Where we will stand a week from now we do not know; we need to be prepared to adapt to further announcements from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the government.

On Friday we also took the sad but necessary decision, in coordination with our partners, to cancel our Walpurgis Eve (Valborg) activities. Helping to organise a day that usually attracts 150,000 people in Uppsala is neither responsible nor legal in the current situation. However, we will be announcing a plan for digital celebrations for the University. Valborg remains in the calendar.

Even if it may feel far off, there will be an afterwards, a post-corona time when we will get back to normal. There are likely to be some lasting changes in our activities and in society in general. The coronavirus will have hit some parts of society harder than others and some seriously affected groups in the labour market may need to reskill. There will be a need for new research in various areas to learn from what we have been through and reduce the risk of a future pandemic. We will probably learn to see new advantages in digital ways of working and perhaps, with increased risk awareness, we will re-evaluate a good many aspects of working life and life in general.

The coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease, has become an issue for our entire society this week, and activities to slow down the spread of infection have increased, both in Sweden and at Uppsala University. Naturally, many people are worried about what may happen. Having said that, it is important to remember that the vast majority of those infected experience relatively mild symptoms.

The national strategy is changing. The assessment is that we are now seeing community transmission in Sweden. The virus will spread widely and measures are now aimed at delaying the course of events. A more gradual process will reduce the strain on health services and increase the probability that those who become seriously ill and groups that are at particular risk can receive help. As someone put it: the burden of the disease will be borne by older people and people with underlying conditions, while the burden of the measures will be borne by those who are younger and healthier. Efforts to limit the spread of infection are primarily a matter of solidarity.

Our crisis management organisation was activated several weeks ago. We are closely monitoring the statements made by infection control doctors and the Public Health Agency of Sweden. We are working actively to take stock of the situation and prepare the University to conduct its activities as normally as possible even at a time when many people are away from their studies or work, and when we are limiting unnecessary close contact between people in various ways.

The single most important message right now is to stay home if you are sick or feel early symptoms of a respiratory infection. You will find continuously updated internal communications and recommendations in the Staff Portal. Keep up to date!

We would like to address sincere thanks to everyone involved in preventive measures, communications and in finding solutions to all the challenges that are now arising in our everyday activities. You are all doing a fantastic job! The situation varies from department to department, and from division to division, and the adaptations required will therefore vary. There are many good local initiatives and creative ideas – do share them with one another!We are getting in touch with our exchange students around the world and with those who are here and are worried about not being able to return home. We are also contacting students who were planning to come here in the autumn and keeping them up to date. Many people are helping to answer the many questions coming up at departments and among our students. The students’ unions and student nations are providing great help in spreading recommendations to students. The IT Division is also hard at work taking stock of and ensuring our capacity for virtual meetings and teaching via Zoom.

We would also like to thank all the researchers who are now giving so generously of their time in the media. It is vital to contribute fact-based knowledge in a situation where many people are worried. You are more important than ever! The information we ourselves are publishing online follows the recommendations of the Swedish authorities and ultimately of the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Those of us in the university management team are monitoring developments closely. The situation is changing from week to week and day to day, and new assessments may lead to new decisions. Outbreaks of infectious diseases cause concern and here too we must all help to remind one another to see things clearly and not lose a sense of proportion. Show consideration and be kind to one another. Act if anyone is accused or is treated badly. Give a little extra thought to our international students and colleagues, who are far from home and are bound to feel extra concern for that reason.

Eva Åkesson, Vice-Chancellor
Anders Malmberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Caroline Sjöberg, University Director
Stellan Sandler, Vice-Rector, Medicine and Pharmacy
Torsten Svensson, Vice-Rector, Humanities and Social Sciences
Johan Tysk, Vice-Rector, Science and Technology

Links:
Information page for employees in the Staff Portal in Swedish and English, regularly updated.

Information page for students in English, regularly updated.

Two very well-attended events were held at the University yesterday. We were happy to welcome Alumnus of the Year Emma Frans, who gave an inspiring lecture in the evening in the University Main Building. She called on us to take greater responsibility for fighting disinformation and fake news, a responsibility I am sure we all feel but perhaps do not always find time to exercise in our everyday lives. When false information spreads about health risks, for example, or about science more generally, we end up with decision-makers and the general public alike acting on an uncertain or, in the worst case, a completely wrong basis. When that happens, society has embarked on a dangerous course.

Emma Frans gave many telling examples of how false information spreads via social channels in particular, and she pointed out how serious it is that this type of information spreads more widely and more quickly than more factual articles or rebuttals. Simple, confident messages are preferred to more nuanced and complex ones. A media landscape like this favours colourful personalities rather than objective experts. However, a society in which the general public has more confidence in influencers than in politics, official information and free media – the very foundations of our democracy – needs more people in the public sphere with thorough knowledge and a talent for communication. And these are precisely Emma Frans’s qualifications. We hope to keep in touch with our latest Alumnus of the Year and will of course bear in mind the advice she gave: to support researchers who champion science in social media even in the face of hostility.

The subject of confidence in science also tied in with the Vice-Chancellor’s seminar that attracted record numbers to a discussion on the freedom of speech in academia earlier in the afternoon. There was a lively discussion, following excellent introductory remarks by Folke Tersman, Sten Widmalm, Maria Eriksson Baaz, Frida Gommel and Mikael Ruotsi. We concluded that we in the academic community must defend the space for difficult discussions on controversial subjects and that the best way for us to do this is by collegial action to bolster our collective self-confidence and by talking more about dilemmas and perceived threats in our everyday experience. It is also appropriate to ask where the most serious threat comes from and to devote energy to that. In this connection, we would like to recall that the freedom of education has a weak legal basis in Sweden today. We have pointed this out more than once, most recently in our budget input to the government, and here we can all join forces to demand change.

The upcoming audit of the University’s quality assurance system, the library inquiry, the implementation of Mission, Goals and Strategies, the EUN application ENLIGHT, the Appointment Regulations and the art of making a world-class handover when you leave office. Yesterday’s deans day was busy, with many productive discussions on issues that all relate to our University’s future development.

The morning news broadcasts had been full of the latest on the coronavirus so we began with a reminder of the simple things we all can do to reduce the potential risk of infection. Wash your hands, cough in the crook of your arm and use Zoom for virtual meetings. It is also important to book travel via Lingmerths, as this makes it easy for the University to obtain a report on the whereabouts of our staff around the world. The assistant infectious disease control specialist in Region Uppsala, Helena Palmgren, joined us by videolink to update us on the situation.

Preparations are under way for the upcoming audit of our quality assurance systems by the Swedish Higher Education Authority. We have to describe how we work on assuring and enhancing the quality of our courses and programmes at all levels. The major task is the self-evaluation, which will involve many University employees. We have a quality assurance system that we believe in, but naturally we must be alert to opportunities for improvement. Also, it may be a challenge to describe the quality assurance procedures at our decentralised University in a way that outsiders find comprehensible and convincing. A snap survey of those present yielded very interesting indications of things that may need particular attention in the work ahead. Very useful!

The discussion on how best to identify indicators for following up the University’s Mission, Goals and Strategies gave a clear picture of the way ahead and will result in instructions from the Vice-Chancellor to the disciplinary domains. We agreed that the best approach is to start at a decentralised level when identifying how best to achieve our goals.

Inquiry chair Björn Brorström also gave us a preview of the upcoming report of the library inquiry, which is due in mid-March. We noted that our development-oriented library meets high standards and is appreciated throughout the University. The library has evolved over the years from a physical place to a resource that can be accessed from anywhere. However, there are challenges and important decisions on priorities lie ahead in this changing field of activities. The inquiry will provide a good basis for further development.

The afternoon session included an overview of the EUN application ENLIGHT, which was sent in the day before yesterday, and a status report from Ann Fust on her ongoing work on the Appointment Regulations. There are many thorny issues to tackle here, but we are hoping for clear-cut proposals. In this particular area, we as a university have a considerable degree of freedom. We need to venture beyond our old habits and leave no stone unturned to be an attractive employer. The report is due in June so there is time for further discussions on new ways of thinking.

We rounded off with an informal discussion on how to manage all the handovers coming up in this ‘super election year’ for the University without losing momentum in all we have going on. The short conclusion was: think of it as a relay race! We have to sprint all the way, pass on the baton securely and then let go.

The Annual Report for 2019 was the main item on the agenda when the University Board met today. The report makes for satisfying reading. The University has a well-run economy and well-run operations. The turnover has increased by SEK 285 million, our educational activities are proceeding according to plan and we are doing well in the competition for direct government funding for research. The number of new doctoral students is now increasing after several years of decline and our agency capital is being steadily put to work. However, being satisfied does not mean we can relax; looking ahead, we see a number of crucial issues that we must urgently address in order to stay at the top. In the budget documentation we are submitting to the government, and which we discussed at the meeting today, we again take up some of the most important issues for the future.

We also had a thorough presentation of our upcoming European University Network application for the ENLIGHT project. The EU programme, known as the European Universities Initiative, aims to “bring together a new generation of creative Europeans able to cooperate across languages, borders and disciplines to address societal challenges and skills shortages faced in Europe.” Solutions to complicated societal challenges require international cooperation to access multiple points of view and benefit from other countries’ experiences. Our application focuses on collaboration with the municipality and several partner universities in Europe to create something completely new on the theme of sustainable cities. An exciting project, which, if the application is approved, will advance our capacity for international collaboration.

An opinion piece by Göran Rosenberg in the radio news programme God morgon världen on 12 January (in Swedish) has sparked debate, including several comments in the Uppsala newspaper UNT (in Swedish). The discussion raises important issues of social control, academic freedom, freedom of expression and equal opportunities. Here are a few reflections on questions that have been directed at Uppsala University and its management in this connection.

• Does Uppsala University defend the freedom of education?

Yes of course, and this question is important. Higher education in Sweden lies wide open to political control. While the freedom of research is protected by law, there is a complete lack of equivalent protection for education. On the contrary, the Higher Education Ordinance defines the qualitative targets for higher education. Uppsala University has repeatedly criticised this unfortunate – and dangerous – state of affairs (for example, in our response to the government inquiry on governance and resources in 2019).

• Does everyone enjoy equal freedom of expression at Uppsala University?

Yes of course, and there can scarcely be any disagreement on this point. Personal attributes must not have any bearing on the freedom to participate in academic debate, and it goes without saying that factors such as gender, age, ethnicity or belief must have no influence on who is allowed to say what in a discussion.

• Are the University’s procedures for handling complaints about harassment or discrimination over-zealous and/or has the incident in question been mismanaged?

No, we don’t think so. Bearing in mind equal opportunities, those who are responsible for an educational programme or a place of work have an unquestionable obligation to respond to information or complaints about victimisation or similar behaviour.

Göran Rosenberg’s original broadcast criticises universities for being over-hasty to launch far-reaching investigations, which in turn “has created a growing market for private consultancies specialising in investigations of perceived violations”. He wonders about the possibility of “more informal methods of investigation to begin with. A face-to-face meeting or dialogue between complainant and respondent, for example.”

As we understand it, this was precisely what happened in the case at issue, and after a meeting the matter was closed without further action, which seems both correct and reasonable.

Having said that, it is not good that the teacher concerned apparently felt called into question during the discussion that took place.

The students reacted to something they perceived as offensive in the teaching situation, as they of course have a right to do. That in itself does not mean that the teacher acted incorrectly. The use of the particular word appears relevant in this connection. Especially in historical sciences, we must be able to deal with and discuss concepts and ways of thinking that are now perceived as degrading or offensive. Naturally, a different example could conceivably have been chosen, but that does not mean that the teacher behaved in a reprehensible way.

In this connection, we would like to recall the words of our new mission statement, Uppsala University: Mission, Goals and Strategies:

“A good learning and research environment is secure, stimulating and challenging for students, teachers and researchers. It is distinguished by openness, intense scholarly discussion, a culture of quality and renewal, equal opportunities, a good work environment and respectful relations between students and members of staff.”

We all share a responsibility to uphold and live up to this approach as far as possible in all circumstances.

Eva Åkesson, Vice-Chancellor
Anders Malmberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Torsten Svensson, Vice-Rector

Yesterday the Management Council made its annual visit to Campus Gotland. After our ordinary meeting, at which we discussed the University’s annual report and budget documentation, which is being prepared, Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor Olle Jansson told us about strategic and current issues at Campus Gotland. The University is well on the way to meeting its goal of 1,500 on-campus students. Most new students are studying game design, public health/caring sciences, law, business administration and earth sciences and with several new degree programmes, this trend is set to continue.

Research developments are also very promising. Several major research initiatives are in progress in areas such as energy, cultural heritage and tourism. A completely new graduate school in sustainable development will start up in August, with 8–12 doctoral students.

It will tie in with local circumstances and will be very exciting to follow. It was also interesting to see a presentation of the internationalisation project that has been carried out in Visby. Needs have been identified and measures taken. The work and study environment has quickly become considerably more international – Campus Gotland is now Uppsala University’s most international campus.

Campus Gotland’s successful development since the merger shows the potential benefits when a larger higher education institution links up with a smaller institution in a way that they choose themselves and that benefits both parties. However, it’s important to remember that extra government development funds are essential, not just to begin with but permanently. And nothing will happen without strenuous efforts and deep commitment from both sides.

After a meeting with staff at which we presented the latest news from the disciplinary domains in Uppsala, we had a chance to meet local politicians and representatives of Region Gotland. It was encouraging to hear the positive views about the importance of the University for regional growth. The cooperation has gone very well. The strategic partnership we have entered into has provided a very good platform and needless to say, it is pleasing that research, innovation and new student housing are included in the proposed strategic development plan for Gotland.

Uppsala University is a member of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities (LINK). This network, which was established in 2016, gives our University a more distinct presence in Brussels and better opportunities to influence European research and education policies.

In conjunction with the departure of the UK from the European Union, The Guild’s members have made a joint statement on the importance of continued cooperation in research and education in which we also express our support for a similar statement from 36 higher education and research stakeholders across Europe.

Research and education operate internationally across borders and we are very keen to continue our close cooperation with our colleagues in the UK.

Early this morning, cannon salutes and Cathedral bells resounded across Uppsala. Today we have celebrated 84 new doctoral graduates, 17 honorary doctors and 13 prizewinners at our University in the traditional grand ceremony. Congratulations!

The speech at this year’s Conferment Ceremony was given by the degree conferrer of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Roland Roberts, who spoke on the subject of science and humankind. Read more about the ceremony and traditions here.

After the ceremony in the Grand Auditorium, celebrations continue at the faculties’ receptions, followed in the evening by a banquet at Uppsala Castle.

The Vice-Chancellor’s speech at the ceremony.

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Just before Christmas I signed a decision to distribute scholarships for a total of SEK 19 million, which was no doubt a welcome Christmas present for the many students – and some researchers – who received the news. Of all the decisions I take as Vice-Chancellor, this is one of those that give me most pleasure. Tomorrow, 30 January, the next application round opens, with a deadline for applications of 19 February. Here you find more information about this springs´ scholarships.

Scholarships are distributed to some 1,100 individuals each year at Uppsala University, from the roughly 400 different scholarship foundations created by donations to the University. Some of them were established as far back as the 17th century to give more people a chance to study at university. There are still students today who do not have to take out student loans because they receive a scholarship covering several years of studies. The large number of scholarship funds represent an extraordinary possibility to provide financial support to those who choose to study specifically at Uppsala University. As Vice-Chancellor, I take decisions on approximately half the scholarships, while the decisions in the other cases are taken by faculties and student associations (nations).

Every year three or four thousand people apply for an average of ten scholarships each, so the total number of applications received can be as high as around 35,000. Despite this, some scholarships have few applicants. Some foundations give precedence to relatives, others have more general requirements, such as diligence, talent or need. Sometimes a geographical connection is required or membership of a particular student nation. However, if no applicant meets the criteria for precedence, the scholarship can usually be awarded to some other applicant, so it can be worth applying even if you don’t meet all the criteria. About half the scholarships are for undergraduate and Master’s students, and range from SEK 5,000 to SEK 120,000 per year. The other half go to researchers and doctoral students, who can apply for grants for research projects or travel.

Most of the scholarships are managed by Uppsala University Foundations Management of Estates and Funds. In total, they manage no less than 604 different foundations associated with the University. The groundwork was laid by donations to the University from the 1620s onwards. The purpose of the donations was generally to support a specific area of research or other activities at the University, or to encourage individuals to study at Uppsala University. The assets have been well looked after for many generations and benefit both education and research. I’m sure it would please the donors to know that their gifts continue to lead to new discoveries today.

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In addition, they create opportunities in other areas as well. For example, they enable us to organise ceremonies and festivities in ways that would be impossible without them. Several prizes awarded by the University come from foundations, including the Geijer Prize, the Oscar Prize, the Gösta Naeslund Prize and many others. Other areas in which the foundations contribute and that also benefit the city and the community are the University’s cultural heritage, gardens and musical activities.

But not all foundations are old. Uppsala University has many friends and has received many donations of a later date. Research inspires interest and many people realise that new knowledge is always needed, not least to tackle major challenges facing society. The University has an office that can be contacted about such matters. You can read about some examples of deserving causes that need support here.