The AVA project's final report is commented on by the management
The project group for the internal project "Working Conditions and Conditional Work", the so-called AVA project, presented its final report and proposals for measures to the Management Council some time ago. Here, the management gives feedback on the proposed measures and the continued work.
"The final report from the AVA project is a welcome basis for the work of dealing with the challenges for teachers and researchers to find concentrated time and concentration for academic work. We would like to thank the project group for the important work it has done and at the same time take the opportunity to give feedback on the various proposals for action that have been presented. The complete final report, including the proposed measures, can be read in its entirety via the link below," says Anders Fällström, Vice-Chancellor.
The report is dedicated to the university management, but the proposals are aimed at all parts of the university. The management notes that the university works actively in various ways to improve the work environment for teachers and researchers. Many of the challenges identified in the report are well known, as are several of the proposed solutions. The focus is now on translating these into concrete measures at all levels of the organization.
"One of the proposals in the report is that we should improve the user-friendliness of the university's digital systems, and during the autumn the management council will discuss how development work can be set up and implemented. The issue will then be raised in the management council as well as FLG, DLG and HLG," says Anna Olofsson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Workforce planning and internal calls
The report also highlights a proposal to change the distribution of time and resources within the framework of workforce planning. The management notes that workforce planning is a key issue where different needs – financial frameworks, risk management and the individual's workload – must be balanced. Directors of studies have a key role but risk a high workload.
"Workforce planning is primarily a matter for faculties and departments, but the university management agrees that it is necessary that workforce planning is done in a way that is sustainable for both the organisation and the individual. both employees and directors of studies. However, the proposal for general 60% workforce planning is not feasible for financial reasons," says Anders Fällström.
A third proposal in the report is to reduce the proportion of internal calls, and here the management believes that the allocation of resources, in comparison with many other higher education institutions, already takes place with a low proportion of internal calls. Approximately 95% of the research grant and 96% of the education grant are distributed directly to the faculties. The latest education initiative is financed by accumulated government capital, where there is a great risk that the funds will be withdrawn from the university. They are therefore used to strengthen quality, internationalisation and research connections.
Decentralised support and strengthened collegiality
One of the starting points for the AVA project was to see how self-administration manifests itself and how it would be possible to organise the support in a different way to make it easier for teachers and researchers. This is also highlighted in the report in the form of a proposal to introduce decentralised operational support.
"The university management has initiated an investigation to investigate whether it is possible to reintroduce administrative support at the department level, without increasing the overhead ratio. The investigation will be carried out in the autumn of 2025. To further reduce the administrative burden, work has also begun on reviewing all governing documents and governance processes," says Anna Olofsson.
"Finally, the project also proposes that collegial governance be strengthened, which the university management welcomes. For several years, we have worked to include collegiality in, for example, employee introductions and internal leadership training. In the spring of 2025, a working group has also been tasked with developing a training course in collegiality for leaders and managers within the university. However, it is important to point out that collegial governance at subject and department level is primarily a faculty issue, and not least the work on delegation of authority within the faculties," says Anders Fällström.
The AVA project consisted of three different sub-studies and was funded over two years at a total cost of SEK 5 million. The project was reported in the form of a number of scientific publications and an anthology, "The conditions of academic work – conditional academic work (AVA)" written by the editors Malin Bolin, Ingela Bäckström, Ann-Zofie Duvander, Katarina L Gidlund, Thomas Persson Slumpi, Angelika Sjöstedt, Lilly-Mari Sten and Kristina Zampoukos and published in the spring of 2025.