Focus on quality assurance, recruitment and the development of education

The Faculty Council has now put forward several matters that will be addressed by the Faculty Board. These include a review of the relationship between the council and the boards, continued work on the regulations governing appointments, and in-depth discussions on quality issues within first-cycle education. It is proposed that the Faculty Board coordinate the school’s response to the referral on changes to the employment regulations, which is due in June. The matter will be pursued in dialogue with the various bodies concerned.

The Board also took decisions on a number of operational matters. Among other things, a recruitment process will be initiated for a lecturer in financial reporting within the property sector. Furthermore, it was decided to launch a course with work-based training (internship) within the commissioned education programme for real estate agents, in collaboration with FEI. A key principle is that the internship should provide additional value and not consist of the participants’ regular work duties.

Stefan Larsson provided an update on the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering's work with and experiences of affiliations, visiting professors and adjunct appointments. A discussion followed on how strategies might be formulated. It is important to include initiatives to increase the proportion of women. How this area of activity can be further developed remains a strategic issue.

Plans for an external peer review of the Third Cycle Education (doctoral studies) were another key point. A working group comprising Johan Spross, Sara Brolund, FA Stefan Larsson and Deputy FA Karin Bradley has been tasked with drafting an overall plan. It was emphasised as particularly important to include international perspectives, not least for smaller disciplines that often have well-established national collaborations. The aim is for the review to be developmental rather than merely supervisory. A proposed plan will be presented at the meeting on 21 May, with a decision scheduled for 11 June.

Furthermore, GA Eva Liedholm-Johnson provided information on the upcoming quality assurance work linked to the school report and the importance of a plan for dialogue and feedback between the Directors of First and Second Cycle Education (GA) and the board. A dedicated quality dialogue is now planned for the autumn. At the end of May, a workshop focusing on programme development and development plans will be held, to which the board has been invited.

Fredrik Johansson, Impact Leader, and Per Wikman Svahn, teacher member, provided an update on the work of the Impact Committee. Among other things, they presented the programme for the ABE Research and Impact Day, which takes place on 28 May. The work of the committee is described as highly valuable, not least thanks to constructive input from external members and faculty representatives.

Under ‘Other matters’, the President’s decision on central co-funding for grants from external research funding bodies was discussed, with the Faculty Board actively monitoring the school’s interests. The Riksbank was named as an example of a funding body that was recently included. Finally, the need to review the terms of office for the First and Second Cycle Education Committee (GU) and the Third Cycle Education Committee (FU) was raised.

The next Faculty Board meeting will be on 21 May.

As told by Helena Mattsson to Josefin Backman

Faculty Board ABE

The Faculty Board at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) is the school's body for collegial influence and decision-making. The Faculty Board consists of the head of school as chair, six teacher representatives, one of whom is the vice-chair, two external representatives and two student representatives. The term of office for Faculty Boards is from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026.

Articles about Faculty Board ABE's work

2026

5. Course review, doctoral education, and employment regulations on the agenda  - Pernilla Hagbert

4. Focus on quality assurance, recruitment and the development of education  - Helena Mattsson

3. Interpretation of requirements for docentship, Vetenskapens hus, and external review  – Luigia Brandimarte

2. New nominating committee, hiring of lecturers, and a proposal for a new master’s programme  – Jenny Paulsson

1. Three recruitment procedures initiated and nominating committee on its way  – Pernilla Hagbert

2025

9. New guest professor, the future of doctoral programmes, and broadened recruitment  – Per Wikman Svahn

8. Impact committee in place, process for positions of trust, and action plan for broadened recruitment  – Helena Mattsson

7. Quality in education, doctoral studies and research  – Luigia Brandimarte

6. External review, impact committee and assistant professor in entrepreneurship financing  – Johan Spross

5. New requirements for real estate agents and extensive intelligence operations in Sweden  – Per Wikman Svahn

4. Plan for guest professors and course syllabus process  – Jenny Paulsson

3. Time for strategy discussions, events on research initiatives, and new professor in the pipeline  – Pernilla Hagbert

2. Plans for broadened recruitment and new measurable ways for quality assurance  – Luigia Brandimarte

1. New energy and new responsibilities - the Faculty Board takes on 2025  – Johan Spross

2024

7. New committees to strengthen the strategic work from January 2025  – Pernilla Hagbert

6. Strategic developments and new initiatives - Faculty Board ABE is looking ahead  – Per Wikman Svahn

5. Quality assurance and reform agenda in focus for the Faculty Board  – Jenny Paulsson

4. New responsibilities and focus on streamlining processes  – Helena Mattsson

3. Establishing a new structure to support decision-making and strategy  – Luigia Brandimarte

2. Focusing on quality and development  – Johan Spross

1. Faculty Board begins work with new decision and delegation scheme  – Pernilla Hagbert