Learning in Engineering Sciences restructures for the future
The President of KTH has decided to restructure the operations in the Department of Learning in Engineering Sciences to better meet the university’s demand for higher education pedagogy, digital learning, global competence and teacher training. The new mandate brings changes in governance, funding and organisation. The transition is already underway and involves the entire department.
The Department of Learning in Engineering Sciences plays a central role in research and innovation within higher education pedagogy, digital learning, science communication, and global competence, with the aim of enhancing the educational process for KTH’s students and teachers. The department will now be further developed to become even more cohesive, transparent, and aligned with the needs of all KTH schools. Head of Department Arnold Pears has been tasked with leading the transition during 2026, and the work is already underway.
“It’s not an easy process, and many of us need to collaborate to make this happen,” says Arnold.
“Since Autumn 2025, the managment group has worked to define an organisational model that we believe can take us forward. We now need the engagement of all staff to begin working in new ways.”
A decision on the department’s central mission at KTH
The President’s decision, made in November 2025, entails several changes:
- From 2027, courses and activities in higher education pedagogy and digital learning shall be anchored in the Faculty Council.
- The department will work together with the schools to create local and discipline-specific collaborations based on each school’s needs.
- The special support for language proficiency courses was phased out at the turn of the year 2025/2026.
- From 2027, the department’s research will be funded in the same way as other research at KTH, through FOFU grants and external funding.
The decision affects both the distribution of responsibilities and the ways of working, and requires an organisational structure where related areas of activity are interconnected.
Research, innovation and teaching in all divisions
Following extensive discussions, an organisation is proposed in which all three divisions combine research, innovation, and teaching. The final names and focus areas of the new divisions will be shaped together with staff, but three focus areas are proposed:
- Communication, organisation and digitalisation
- Global and sustainable futures
- House of Science, learning and didactics
“We want to strengthen the research dimension in all our divisions,” Arnold emphasises.
“When research and education come together, new opportunities arise for addressing societal challenges, and we also create better conditions for external funding.”
As a complement, a matrix organisation will be introduced with three Deputy Heads of Department: one for education, one for research, and one for commissioned activities.
During the spring, the department will carry out risk and impact analyses. A town hall meeting with all staff was held on 4 March 2026, and work to appoint the new roles will begin in the Autumn.
In parallel, discussions are ongoing with Stockholm University (SU) regarding the future of teacher education programmes and how responsibilities and workload should be shared between the two universities. A decision is expected later this year.
Text and photo: Ulrika Georgsson