The University's budget for 2023 and financial plan for 2024-2025 is divided into several different areas: undergraduate and master's level education (first and second-cycle courses and study programmes), research and doctoral (third-cycle) education, and university-wide functions. The common aspect is that the budget framework is increasing in all areas.
The conditions for long-term planning are improved
The investment in doctoral education will end in 2023, which means a reduction in funding of around SEK 20 million for Umeå University. For 2023, the budget framework will nevertheless remain at the same levels as in previous years, which will be financed by savings in 2023-2025. Otherwise, there will only be indexation increases for the budget for undergraduate and master's education in 2024-2025. This will hopefully contribute to a more long-term approach regarding budget work.
All faculties and the Umeå School of Education have the possibility to exceed their budget by a maximum of 4 per cent and receive financial compensation for these full-year students and full-year achievements.
Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor, Umeå University
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
"The hope is that this will provide good conditions for a more long-term planning of education at undergraduate and master's level," says Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson, which is also something that faculties and departments highlighted in the dialogues.
One change that affects the budget framework is the University Board's decision to reallocate funds between faculties and the School of Education. The reason for the change is the outcome of full-year students and annual performance equivalents in 2019-2021 and the dialogues conducted with all parties. After the reallocation, all faculties and the School of Education have the possibility to increase the number of full-year students compared to 2021.
In their budget documents for 2023, the Faculty Boards, School of Education, University Administration, and the University Library must also indicate how the gender equality perspective in resource allocation can be developed.
Increasing the budget framework for research and doctoral studies
For 2023, the budget framework increases by SEK 16.8 million. The current allocation of funds to strategic research areas is valid until 2024, unless a possible new government decides otherwise.
In several areas, the University sees the need for further work. These include how the university can increase the use of research infrastructures, increase external research funding, increase the number of co-published articles, and meet the increased demand for research, education and collaboration related to the green transformation in northern Sweden.
The project for research data management will be funded from 2023 with SEK 2 million per year from the research grant. This is funding in addition to project funds to start preparing to manage the results of the project in the longer term.
Additional funds for acquisitions and publishing, and recruitment of an HR strategist
The university-wide costs will be increased by SEK 18.9 million. SEK 8.5 million is due to increased costs for acquisitions and publishing, to maintain staffing levels at the Umeå University Library, but also to an investment in teaching services for all students.
The 2023 budget also includes resources to hire an HR strategist with a focus on harassment, sexual harassment, and victimisation.
New target levels for administrative capital and levels for the withdrawal of positive results
In recent years, Umeå University has not made full use of its annual allocation and has therefore built up an increasing amount of administrative capital. During the board meeting in Skellefteå, the University Board discussed the situation and will follow developments closely.
"We see that the available funds are not being used its full capacity and we are working actively to avoid further increasing the administrative capital, such as through the investment in research and education that has been decided," says Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson. "But we all need to work together to make sure that this year's allocated funding for education and research is implemented."
As of the financial year 2023, all organisational units must annually analyse their administrative capital and show what plans there are how administrative capital is to be used. The target has previously been for administrative capital to be in the range of 9-15 per cent, but in 2021 the level was 22.2 per cent.
As a measure to use the available resources, the University Board has decided to make an investment of SEK 315 million to strengthen research and education 2021-2025. The activities include strengthening education, investing in digitisation, infrastructure and continuing professional development, further pedagogical development and, for example, work on profile areas.
Target levels for administrative capital
| |
Target levels
|
Limit
|
| |
2023-2025 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
| First- and second-cycle education |
9% |
10% |
9% |
9% |
| Third-cycle education |
12% |
20% |
16% |
12% |
| Other |
9% |
10% |
9% |
9% |
Levels for the withdrawal
As of 2019, the equivalent of 10% of the annual positive result will be deducted for faculties, Umeå School of Education, the University Administration, and the University Library. This was a measure to reduce the administrative capital but has not affected the increase sufficiently. As a result, the levels of withdrawal of positive results will also be adjusted annually.
| |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
| First- and second-cycle education |
15% |
23% |
30% |
| Third-cycle education |
15% |
23% |
30% |
| Other |
15% |
23% |
30% |
Any questions?
Contact Per Ragnarsson, Deputy University Director