She looks forward to closer collaboration between management and the faculty board

Portrait — Malin Selleby is Professor and Head of the Unit of Structures at Materials Science and Engineering. Since January 1, 2024 also deputy chair of the ITM school's faculty board.

Published Mar 10, 2025

Hi Malin Selleby, Deputy Chair of the ITM School’s Faculty Board, professor, and unit head.

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What did you discuss at the latest Faculty Board meeting?

"One key topic was KTH’s quality system for research. Dean Sofia Ritzén and Johanna Andersson Raeder, an educational leader from the University Administration, joined the meeting to talk about the need to revise the current system. Right now, it lacks a clear purpose and doesn’t meet external requirements. There’s also a question of whether the system is actually creating enough value. A working group will now draft a new proposal, and the Dean wants to discuss it with faculty boards and management teams at an early stage".

"We also had a really interesting presentation by Marie Ideström, an external board member from Womengineer. She spoke about how job advertisements can be designed to attract a wider range of applicants. Of course, there’s a lot of information that has to be included in KTH’s job ads, but there’s also plenty we can influence. We need to be aware of what appeals to women and younger generations—especially now that the Faculty Board is responsible for recruiting teachers. And, of course, we need to make sure that we actually live up to what we promise in the ads, to create real equality".

"Andrew Martin, the school’s Faculty Renewal Coordinator, also shared insights into the work of developing a new faculty renewal plan. Since the beginning of the year, the Faculty Board has been responsible for deciding when to initiate a recruitment process for teaching positions. That part of our mandate is clear, and we’re already up and running. But what does 'participate in the preparation of the school’s faculty renewal plan' actually mean in practice? That part is still a bit fuzzy, and we need to figure it out together".

How do you feel about the collaboration with the school’s management team, now that it’s been a year since you started?

"I think our school might have the least dialogue between the Management Team and the Faculty Board. This became clear at a recent meeting where all the faculty boards were invited by the Faculty Council. We reflected on where we stand after one year with the boards, and it turns out that several other schools have come further in terms of collaboration".

"A fresh example is the feedback process on KTH’s career system review. Many schools submitted a joint response from their management and faculty board, but in our case, we ended up with two separate responses".

The career system review was your first attempt at gathering faculty input—how did that process go?

"We encouraged faculty engagement in several ways, but in the end, not that many actively reached out to share their views. We started with a school-wide meeting, though attendance was affected by a snowstorm. That meeting brought up some key questions. I also received a lot of input at the school’s leadership retreat in January. Our response reflects all those perspectives and aims to serve KTH’s best interests".

"We will, of course, keep listening to our colleagues. But at the same time, we also remind ourselves that we were elected to act on their behalf".

What’s happening in the Doctoral Education Committee, where you’re involved?

"We have an exciting year ahead! We’re taking a fresh look at the entire doctoral education system at the school and conducting a thorough review. Should we continue having one programme per department? Which courses should be mandatory? How can we reduce the administrative workload? And the fact that PhD courses currently lack funding is another challenge we need to tackle. These are some of the big questions we’re already working on".

"Speaking of collaboration with management, last Tuesday we held a well-attended meeting for all PhD supervisors. It was organized by FA* Mats Magnusson and us in the Faculty Board’s Doctoral Education Committee. The meeting allowed supervisors to start discussing the changes they’d like to see while also receiving practical updates on what’s happening. I really believe in school-wide meetings with relevant themes, organized by the Faculty Board together with key representatives like the FA, GA*, and department heads".

Finally, is there something you’re especially passionate about in the Faculty Board?

"Besides my strong desire to improve doctoral education, I really want to get collaboration working—between the school’s Management Team and the Faculty Board. And we’re already taking the first step! On Thursday, March 13, we’re having our second joint meeting. So now, things are finally happening!"

*FA is an acronym for Director of Third Cycle Education, and there is one at each school at KTH.

**GA is an acronym for Director of First and Second Cycle Education, and there is normally one ordinary and one deputy at each school.

Text: Ulrika Georgsson

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