Impact committee in place, process for positions of trust, and action plan for broadened recruitment
The faculty board's November meeting
Members of the faculty board's impact committee have been elected, an action plan for broadened recruitment is to be developed, and work to find candidates for a large number of positions of trust in 2026 has begun. In addition, a working group for the upcoming collegial review has been assembled, and the faculty board believes that KTH should have clearer statements on sustainability as well as gender equality, diversity and equal conditions.
In 2026, the term of office expires for a number of positions of trust at the ABE School. These include the director of first and second cycle education and deputy director of first and second cycle education, five of six heads of department, head of school and deputy head of school, as well as the entire faculty board.
"Several nomination committees will work to develop proposals – one for the faculty board as well as head of school and deputy head of school, one for director of first and second cycle education and deputy director of first and second cycle education, and several nomination committees for the heads of department," explains Helena Mattsson. "Our plan is to inform about the processes for appointing managers and trusted representatives at the ABE school meeting in February. We want an open process where employees and students have the opportunity to be heard."
During the meeting, members were also appointed to the new impact committee. Fredrik Johansson, chair, Fredrik Gröndahl, Cecilia Hermansson and Per Wikman Svahn formally constitute the committee from 1 November 2025 until 31 December 2026. Fredrik Johansson's is already appointed as impact leader until 30 June 2029.
"The faculty board's external members, Johan Dozzi from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and Karin Ekdahl Wästberg, City of Stockholm, can be co-opted to the committee's meetings. The committee can also co-opt other members of the faculty board or, for example, student representatives."
The faculty board has been tasked with developing an action plan for broadened recruitment and broadened participation, a responsibility that has been moved from the central level to the schools' faculty boards.
"It's good that the task lies with the school, but it also requires resources," comments Helena Mattsson. "To achieve the best possible effect, the idea is to work in a focused manner and to strengthen existing work. We want to offer equal access to higher education and equal opportunity to complete it; higher education needs to reflect society's diversity to a greater extent. This can involve children with parents without higher education or with a foreign background."
Some previous initiatives mentioned were within the engineering programme and the architecture programme. Other paths forward may be to collaborate with THS and groups working with intersectionality; it can also involve smaller activities such as reading lists and other support for students.
The faculty board will assemble a working group for broadened recruitment. The idea is also to raise the issue at an upcoming ABE school meeting.
"Another working group has been formed for the collegial review that starts in 2026 and begins with the master's programmes. Luigia Brandimarte is the convener, and the group is to develop a structure and system that provides a good return for the resources invested."
The faculty board, represented by the vice chair, has also participated in the school's operational dialogue with the president that took place on 27 October. The faculty board has also responded to refferals, including about KTH's new sustainability goals as well as policy decisions on gender equality, diversity and equal conditions.
"We feel that social perspectives and justice perspectives are missing from the sustainability goals. We also want to see a clearer perspective on AI. Regarding gender equality issues, we want it to be stated more clearly that KTH should not contribute to technical research leading to inequality."
