“JML is a prerequisite for quality in research, education and work environment”

What is the focus of the reform agenda for the coming year?

“Regarding the educational offering and quality of education, we are prioritizing the ongoing review of the master's programmes and the educational offering in general. In the work to improve quality, the program councils at all levels have also gotten off to a good start and we are continuing that work. We have noticed great engagement from students, doctoral students and teachers in discussions about quality issues.”

“In the work towards an attractive, gender-equal and inclusive workplace, we are adding more resources and changing the composition of the JML group so that we have a smaller, executive group.”

“To achieve complete academic environments, we continue the work with recruitments to create a clearer connection between research and teaching, and there we can note that the balance between education, research and external funding has improved.”

What should the school achieve in its activities?

“The review of the educational offering may lead to changes during 2026, programmes may be merged, discontinued or started.”

“We want the gender equality issue to become broader. By working with strategic follow-up – which is important in a learning organization – we can reach further. We are also continuing the strategic initiative on visiting professors, part of the work towards a more even gender distribution among the school's professors.”

“Overall, we have a balanced economy at the ABE School. This is partly due to a better balance between education and externally funded research. We have made improvements where there have been problems with finances and we know where we need to continue working. The goal that all departments should have a balanced economy remains and we expect to achieve this during 2026.”

Why are these changes the most important ones to make, and how will they be implemented?

“There may be blind spots in the educational offering and we need to know which societal needs we may not be meeting today. There is a delay, from when a new program starts until the graduated students make a difference takes at least ten years, so we need to identify where we can make a difference.”

“The issue of gender equality, diversity and equal opportunities needs to become broader, as mentioned, we believe that a JML group that is composed in a different way can help us move forward into the next phase. Gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is a prerequisite for quality in research, education and work environment. I want to encourage everyone who is interested in working strategically with gender equality issues to get in touch!”

“In the long term, finances must be balanced for all operations and at the ABE School we have sound finances. This gives us opportunities to conduct good operations. Some work remains before all departments have balanced finances but we are almost there.”

As told to Johan C Thorburn ( thorb@kth.se )