Quality assurance and reform agenda in focus for the Faculty Board
In early October, the second Faculty Board meeting of the semester took place, this time in conjunction with a joint conference with the School's management. The meeting included a mix of strategic discussions and decision-making matters.
Jenny Paulsson , teacher member of the Board, gives an insight into the main topics raised.
How was the conference and the latest Board meeting?
It was very valuable to have time for strategic discussions together with the school management. We were able to go more in-depth on various issues than we have been able to in the spring, which provided a good basis for our regular Board meeting that followed. I can also announce that the Board is now complete, as we have two union representatives in place, Peter Brokking, SACO-S, and Henrik Stålhandske, ST.
What issues were the focus of the meeting?
A key item on the agenda was the School Report, which was presented by the Director of First and Second Cycle Education (GA) and the Deputy GA. The report is based on programme analyses from all first and second cycle programmes and provides an overview of the quality situation within the school's programmes. This process is an important part of our quality work and the report was discussed in the Faculty Board in a first version. We had a thorough review of the report and provided comments both during the meeting and in writing a few days later. The work on the report is part of the school's and the board's quality assurance focus and something we will delve further into in the future. It is important that this report is utilised in practice and that the reflections are taken into consideration.
Were any other important decisions taken?
Yes, we decided on the establishment of some new courses at first and second cycle level, and doctoral level. Prior to the meeting, we had pre-meetings in our newly established First and Second Cycle Education Committee and Third Cycle Education Committee where we discuss these matters in advance. This allows us to prepare better and resolve any ambiguities before the decisions are taken by the board, making the work more efficient.
We also discussed the school reform agenda and what activities lie ahead for us and the school. The matter of the school's educational offer and the role of the Faculty Board in quality assurance work are considered high priorities. Work on developing complete academic environments is on hold, partly pending the results of the ongoing review of the career system. To ensure an attractive, equal and inclusive workplace, several initiatives are underway, for example, there are now two female visiting professors in place and two more on the way as part of the school's strategic initiative for visiting professors.
You also had a school meeting for the school faculty recently, how did it go?
It was a well-attended meeting with great engagement. The theme of the meeting was ‘ Finances in Balance’ and how this affects our daily activities, both in teaching and research. The school management gave a presentation, followed by collegial discussions on the consequences and effects of this. We received both verbal and written feedback, and the teacher members of the board will meet later this week to discuss how to take the discussion forward. It is important that we maintain a continuous dialogue with both the faculty and the operational support.
From the first of January next year, the faculty boards at KTH's schools will be responsible for managing the recruitment and promotion of teachers, affiliations and the admission of docents. How is the work to prepare the boards for this going?
Intensive work is currently underway to create a new organisation for the recruitment processes that will come into force at the end of the year. Karin Edvardsson Björnberg, Deputy Head of School and Head of Faculty Renewal (FFA) for ABE, is part of that working group. We have seen a draft of what the structure will look like and provided our feedback. The idea is that each school should have an employment committee under the respective board, and that the structure should be similar across all schools. Hopefully, a decision will be made soon so that we can appoint our committee at the next meeting in November.