Today, I get to look back on yet another year spent in one of the most inspiring positions I can imagine: Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University! Even though 2022 taught us that the threat of war apparently still looms large in Europe, we stand more unified than ever, after having lived through a pandemic together. The year has reminded us, once again, of the importance of research and education. We would never have gained access to the new vaccines in such record time without basic molecular biological and medical research. We would not have been treated to such insightful analyses of the recent Swedish election had it not been for political science research. And without historians, it would be even harder to understand the war in Ukraine.
Shifting our gaze back to our own workplace, I also think it is worth highlighting the persistent efforts made by many colleagues to prevent and address victimisation, harassment and sexual harassment. It goes without saying that Umeå University has a zero tolerance policy towards such behaviour – a policy all of us have a responsibility to uphold. We have come a long way with most proposals for improvements reviewer Karin Röding presented in report. This kind of work will perhaps never be finished. But I do believe we have come quite some way on our journey towards the safe and secure place for work and study that is our goal. Just to emphasise how important this issue truly is to me, I would like to mention that I will take over as chairperson of the Strategic Council for Equal Opportunities when Deputy Vice-Chancellor Heidi Hansson leaves that position at the end of the year.
Something else 2022 made very clear is what an important role our University plays in the current transformation of northern Sweden. We have set up several new study programmes, multiple major research projects are either up and running or about to take off, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dieter Müller was asked to represent the University and mobilise any and all forces, internal or external, to help guide and make the most of this development. I am genuinely looking forward to strengthening our role in this area this coming year – for example by focusing on this issue at the annual Kunskapsnoden event in January.
On a more personal note, I will begin serving as chairperson of SUHF, the Association of Swedish Higher Education, in 2023 – an elected position I hope will prove beneficial to our University. In this forum, the University can have a say on the future of the entire Swedish higher education sector. For example by drafting joint recommendations on important issues that affect education and research, or by engaging in dialogue with various stakeholders and politicians. One of our focus areas these coming months will be the new government bill on research expected in the autumn of 2024. Chairing SUHF will be an excellent way for me personally, and for the University as a whole, to help shape tomorrow's education and research.
But let us not, amid all this fancy talk and these visionary statements, lose sight of the most valuable thing we have in life: each other. I hope you will get to treat yourself to a lovely Christmas break, tucking into delicacies and spending time with loved ones. We'll see each other again after the holidays, re-energised and ready to tackle a whole new, exciting year.
There is a shorter version available of this interview video, which the Communications Office will be posting on social media – have a cheeky look at it to find out whether I like to get all suited up during the holidays or prefer a jolly festive jumper...
Now bring out that mulled wine – Merry Christmas!