We have now sent an open letter to the Government, signed by 37 vice-chancellors, in which we strongly condemn the Government’s decision to shorten board members’ term of office. What worries us more, however, is the fundamental change the Government’s decision entails: it wishes to alter a nomination process that has always worked well for higher education institutions, one that walks a careful tightrope between the fact that (most) Swedish universities and university colleges are public authorities, with everything that entails, and the fact that they should simultaneously be free to conduct research and education even in fields seen as sensitive.
Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
The Government’s argument for shorter terms of office is that Sweden currently faces grave security concerns, which means university boards require members with security policy expertise. I agree that the country is in a worrying security situation, one that of course also affects Umeå University and other higher education institutions. But increased political interference is not the solution; there are other measures universities can take.
The current debate is supported by higher education institutions across Sweden, and is important for Swedish democracy at large. Or, as we phrase things in our open letter to the Government: “Free academia, a free judiciary system, free arts and a free press are some of the cornerstones that uphold our democratic system and safeguard human rights […].”
When Sweden’s vice-chancellors met with Minister for Education Mats Persson on Wednesday, the recent decision was one of the main topics we discussed. The Minister emphasised that while the decision may have been unprecedented, current geopolitics justify it. He did, however, clearly state that he disagrees with critics who claim the decision in and of itself constitutes a threat to academic freedom. We find it highly remarkable that the person chosen to chart Sweden’s higher-education policy course does not realise that this decision directly increases politicians’ say over the sector. Security policy expertise today – but what will the next step be, which expertise will be needed tomorrow? Political decisions directly affect the autonomy of higher education institutions and, by extension, academic freedom!
To wrap things up, I would like to reiterate something I have said before. Umeå University does not in any way criticise its external board members or the new chair, who just commenced their term of office. On the contrary: I genuinely look forward to working with the new board and warmly welcome them to Umeå University. But together, we – the University Board and the University Management, employees and students – need to keep carrying the torch for academic freedom and institutional autonomy.