”A fantastic possibility to see how KTH works”

"To me it’s very important to be able to have an impact and to be able to discuss the questions I find important. What’s also fantastic about the School Faculty Assembly is the possibility to discuss with colleagues at other campuses. We are a large school and it’s important to be able to reach out," says Cristina Al-Khalili Szigyarto.

What have you discussed in the School Faculty Assembly?

"Our discussions have been very broad and at our school, the questions have been many. We’ve discussed research and research funding, how to assess the courses and the collaboration with the society and how we can spread the word about all the good work we do."

According to Cristina Al-Khalili Szigyarto, the School Faculty Assembly has a good cooperation with the Faculty Council. She and vice chairman Torbjörn Pettersson meet the Faculty Council’s representatives regularly to inform them about what’s been up for discussion and what they think that the Faculty Council should discuss further.

"We are in a way operating under the Faculty Council and sometimes they have given us questions to discuss. Now that the recruitment process for the next president has started, we have been able to participate in that process and take a look at what’s going to happen at KTH in the future. We also have questions from the members, of course. For example about how to work during the pandemic, how to improve the cooperation within the school, questions about academic citizenship and about how we use our resources in the very best way."

Good attendance that can be even better

The School Faculty Assemblies were established at KTH’s five schools in spring 2020. Since then, CBH’s School Faculty Assembly has had open meetings for all colleagues five times and the members have met four times. There’s been a different theme for every meeting and the attendance has varied according to theme. All in all, it’s been good, according to Cristina Al-Khalili Szigyarto.

"Compared to other schools, I think we’ve had very good attendance! But I’m not content yet, I’d like more people to participate. I think it has a lot to do with visibility, but also about trying out new ways for the meetings, in order to be more including. And, most importantly, to discuss what the faculty actually takes an interest in."

What’s it been like as a chairman?

"It’s been great fun, actually. I have enjoyed starting up projects and it’s been interesting to find including forms for this and making people take part in the work we do. We had a very quick start and we had little time to start the work with the School Faculty Assembly. We can see that the number of members are increasing along the way. The elected members have been informing others, and their work is very valuable, because they are looking very meticulously for interesting issues and challenges that we need to adress."

Will you be up for re-election?

"Yes, I think so. I haven’t really decided yet, but I’m tempted, I must say. It’s been great fun and it’s so rewarding to see the bigger picture. As a researcher and teacher you’re sometimes in your own little world, dealing with your own business. To really see the bigger picture, the issues and challenges that KTH has, it’s been very exciting. I think more people should candidate! It’s really a fantastic possibility to get an insight in how KTH works."

Text: Jon Lindhe

Translation: Åsa Karsberg