Time for strategy discussions, events on research initiatives, and new professor in the pipeline
From the Faculty Board's third meeting of 2025, Pernilla Hagbert, the Board's Vice Chair, highlights topics including how to allocate more time for strategic discussions, completed events about research initiatives, an upcoming visiting professor, and strategic research areas.
Since the Faculty Boards began their work in January 2024, a large number of formal matters have limited the time available for strategic discussions. One way to free up more time for strategic issues has been to prepare formal matters in specialized committees. The ABE School's Faculty Board already had two education committees, and since the beginning of the year, an appointments committee and a docent committee have been added.
The Faculty Boards' vice chairs participate in a group for collegial coordination together with the dean, vice dean, and the university board's faculty representatives. The group discusses developments in the Faculty Boards, Faculty Council, and University Board. One function of the group is to ensure consistency across schools. It has been clear that formal matters have been labor-intensive for all schools' Faculty Boards, as also shown by a recently conducted survey.
Rewarding events on strategic research initiatives
Two events on strategic research initiatives were held in February and April. Researchers from different parts of the school met, and hopefully these meetings will lead to applications. The Faculty Board plans to organize a similar meeting in connection with a major call for proposals in the autumn.
Presentations from the events are published on the intranet
Dialogue on development of administrative support
Last autumn, the Faculty Board invited people to a school meeting where overhead costs and operational support were discussed. The school's operational support is also being reorganized during 2025. Together, this has led to a jointly identified need for collegial conversations about how support is perceived by and can be developed in relation to operations. During the spring, two dialogue sessions have been conducted, one focusing on undergraduate education and one on doctoral education, to clarify what type of support is needed.
The Faculty Board plans continued dialogue, including on research administrative support, and sees that it can fill an important role as a bridge between the faculty and operational support.
Appointment process initiated
The Faculty Board decided to initiate an appointment process for a visiting professor in philosophy of science with a focus on modeling in engineering sciences. The position will be financed through the school's initiative for female visiting professors.
Civil defense and guidelines for strategic research areas
A consultation document has been circulated regarding guidelines for strategic research areas. A compilation och submitted comments will be addressed at the Faculty Board's next meeting, which takes place on 15 May.
Johan Dozzi, an external member of the board, raised the question of how KTH addresses civil defense issues, which affect education, research, and collaboration. The Faculty Board notes that there should be opportunities within the new strategic research area of crisis preparedness and total defense. Johan Dozzi has recently become head of division at the Division for Supply Preparedness at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.
