Tasked by the University Board, the Internal Audit Office has reviewed the University's safety and security work, which can be divided into three areas: physical safety, personal safety and information security. The review has also involved an in-depth analysis on the theme of protective security. The underlying reason behind the audit are the changes in the general security situation outside of the University.
Positive development of control and coordination
The Internal Audit Office assesses that control and coordination of safety and security activities at Umeå University have moved in the right direction in recent years. There are organisational structures in place for control and coordination just like there are applicable and concise rules and guidelines for our joint work on safety and security. Umeå University has a steering committee for safety and security work on a strategic level and a coordination team for the operative safety and security work with tangible activities that are coordinated between certain administrative offices. In the report, the Internal Audit Office describes that the University has progressed in its protective security work, but since the internal auditors do not have sufficient security clearance, they have not been able to access sensitive data for their audit.
Appropriate support must be investigated
The drafting of the University's new Rule for university-wide safety and security work proved a challenging process and resulted in discussions on where support in safety and security issues should be placed in the organisation, various responsibilities and roles and the conditions for managers to take their responsibilities when it comes to safety and security.
Jonas Hansson, internal auditor, the Internal Audit Office.
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
"The Internal Audit Office points out that there has been no in-depth analysis. Hence, we recommend that the University investigates what support the organisation needs in safety and security issues, and this should then result in an analysis and proposals on how to organise support at various levels of the organisation," says Jonas Hansson, internal auditor.
Measures to develop safety and security activities
The University Management agrees with the Internal Audit Office's recommendations and intends to investigate what need for support the organisation has in these issues, and consequently propose how appropriate support can be put in place at the different levels of the organisation.
Hans Wiklund, University Director, University Management.
Photo: Mattias Pettersson
"I'm glad that the Internal Audit Office's audit shows that the University has a functioning control and coordination of its safety and security activities. To meet the needs of the worsened security situation, the University has added resources over the last few years, and the University Administration has worked purposefully to improve support in this area. Despite having taken important steps in the right direction already, it remains clear that the University needs to further improve support to the organisation and consequently set up good conditions so that managers and staff can take their safety and security responsibilities," says Hans Wiklund, University Director.
The University Management assesses that our current protective security activities are satisfactory based on the current situation as described in the report and does not deem it necessary to take further measures on that part.
Would you like to learn more?
Read the Internal Audit Office's report, which is available in Swedish.
Do you have questions about the report? Contact Jonas Hansson
Do you have questions about what measures the University Management is taking? Contact Hans Wiklund