The board wants to see changes in the management work

In connection with the Board's decision to appoint Professor Anna Olofsson as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for a further term, several new assignments were given to the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. At its meeting, the Board concluded that Anna Olofsson meets the formal requirements for a renewed appointment and highlights, among other things, her academic competence and the positive assessments given by the students about the management's accessibility and dialogue.

At the same time, there has been clear criticism from academic and administrative staff, including regarding leadership culture, pace of change, participation and work environment.

"The Board has great confidence in the management and has therefore chosen to re-appoint the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. The University is facing several major changes, and in the situation we are in, the Board has assessed that continuity in the University Management is important to ensure that the ongoing change process continues. At the same time, it is important that the changes are implemented in a way that creates participation, security and good conditions for our employees," says Helene Hellmark Knutsson, Chair of the University Board.

Clear demands on the university management

In its decision, the Board states that the University Management shall, among other things:

• By 1 December 2026 at the latest, develop a clearer division of work and roles between the Vice-Chancellor and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
• Develop a concrete action plan to strengthen psychological safety and improve dialogue with the organisation
• Improve the University's change processes, including through clearer risk and impact analyses and better conditions for dialogue and internal referrals

"There are already several important processes and initiatives in place to strengthen the work environment and collegial participation, and the Board wants to contribute to ensuring that this work is strengthened and followed up. Therefore, the University Management will continuously report on the work to the Board. We want to be close to developments and ensure that the views that have been expressed also have an impact on the continued work," says Helene Hellmark Knutsson.

Open forum and dialogue meetings during the autumn

"We take on board the criticism that some changes have gone too quickly. There has obviously been a need for more dialogue and support, and in addition to the areas highlighted by the board, we are also discussing other areas that we want to address. At the same time, it is important that the entire management council is involved in the continued work. Therefore, our next meeting will be devoted to discussing concrete measures. Part of this work can be to bring in external support to strengthen psychological safety, both in the university management and among our other managers in the management forum," says Vice-Chancellor Anders Fällström.

"I am grateful for the continued confidence in me as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, but I take the submissions from the hearing very seriously. I will, in the ways I can, work to improve the areas where we currently have challenges. Employees should feel that they can have their say. Even though they may not always agree with us in the management about the decisions we make, it is of the utmost importance that they feel that we want to listen and here we need to improve," says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Anna Olofsson. 

Within the next few weeks, the Vice-Chancellor and the rest of the university management will also initiate a round in which all departments and divisions will be visited in order to be able to listen in and engage in dialogue. During the autumn, Ask & Fika will also be held at both campuses, an open forum where employees can put forward opinions and engage in dialogue with the university management.