Two intense weeks with interesting meetings – and festivities

Umeå University welcomed US Ambassador Erik D Ramanathan who delved into the University's research on Life Science, the Arctic, climate, geopolitics and Sámi perspectives. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited the Police Education Unit as a side-event to the Moderate Party's conference in Umeå. The Swedish Research Council's management has also visited Umeå University to discuss shared strategic issues on how to jointly strengthen Swedish research excellence, and how to manage our national infrastructure in the long term.

Last week, Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) held its annual two-day conference and general assembly, this time at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm. One of the many interesting discussions in higher education at the moment revolves around research ethics and good research practice. During the annual conference, the Swedish National Board for Assessment of Research Misconduct (NPOF), the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM) and the Ethics Review Appeals Board (ÖNEP) presented their activities, and a panel shed light on the researcher's perspective, and how we can work to provide better support to researchers when it comes to these issues.

During the SUHF general assembly, which unites the 38 member organisations and is represented by vice-chancellors or university directors, a joint comment to the Swedish Government regarding future research and innovation bills was discussed. I have been very much involved in drafting two such comments – Umeå University's response as well as that of SUHF. As I've mentioned in a previous blog post, Umeå University wants to highlight the importance of strengthening academic freedom and institutional autonomy. This is something SUHF also mentions in their comment by emphasising the importance of securing academic freedom through the Swedish constitution. SUHF is also pushing towards a general increase of state funding for research, and primarily increasing universities' direct government funding for research.

This week, I have spent a lot of time in Brussels to talk about the need for leadership training through participating in a panel as a side-event to the concluding event for the project NewLead, which has been run by the European University Association (EUA), but also to participate in the EUA Council Assembly. We have also discussed the future of AcrossEU – Umeå University's partnership with eight other European universities – which will result in a new EU application within the European University Alliance initiative.

And at the weekend, between these two intense weeks, I had the pleasure of participating in one of the University's finest traditions – the Annual Celebration. At a very solemn ceremony, we installed our new professors, conferred our new honorary doctors and celebrated our scientific award recipients. I'm always very proud to be a part of the Annual Celebration and similar celebratory events at the University. These are events crowned by solemnity and joy, showing how fantastic members of staff together make Umeå University what it is.

I'd also like to conclude by recommending you all to swing by Aula Nordica to look at the research presentations that have been put up outside the auditorium. These are fine examples of the University's excellent research that we so proudly want to showcase. More such research presentations will be produced and put up in the years to come.