New University Director at KTH
On 1 September, Kerstin Jacobsson will join as University Director. With solid experience of the university and college sector, she is now set to get to grips with KTH.
“It is going to be very exciting to join such a creative and well-reputed university.”
Jacobsson arrives from the Department of Education, where she has worked on two separate occasions. For the past four years, she has been head of the Universities and Colleges Office at the Department, which means she has gained a thorough understanding of the sector as a whole.
“In my role, I have been in charge of Sweden's universities and colleges, the Swedish Higher Education Authority plus the Swedish Council for Higher Education.”
She had previously been Deputy University Director at Uppsala University for eight years, following her first stint at the Department of Education. Jacobsson grew up on a Norduppland farm and studied at Uppsala where she gained a Bachelor's Degree, majoring in Political Science.
Although she has really enjoyed her time at the Department of Education, she has missed the campus buzz and a university environment.
“I am really looking forward to getting cracking. A university is a fantastically fun place to work - at the interface between knowledge and people,” she says before adding:
“The fact that by their very nature, research and knowledge know no national borders is also stimulating”.
What trends are you seeing within the sector?
“External expectations on universities and colleges seem to be growing all the time. Many issues crucial for humanity demand answers and this calls for new creative solutions to meet them and other rapid developments.”
What does a healthy administration mean for a university?
“Administrative departments are there to give proper support to core activities, and at the same time ensure that the university works well as a government financed body. A healthy administration means it is perceived as providing a solid foundation for education and research of the highest quality.”
What is the first thing on your list at KTH?
“Naturally, first of all, I need to get to know and understand the university. Having said that, I am really looking forward to then playing my part in the development of KTH in the way I head the administration department and support functions.
Words; Jill Klackenberg