Umeå University invests 315 million in research and education

The investment totals SEK 315 million over the period 2021–2025. SEK 35 million will be allocated to 2021 as only half the year remains, and SEK 70 million per year for the remaining years, 2022–2025. This initiative is intended to support the development of education and research and strengthen the university’s role, nationally and internationally, in accordance with the university’s vision.

– The University Board supports the Vice-Chancellor’s proposed strategic initiative and its explicit bearing on the vision. The initiative is also founded on needs identified in the organisation. The University Board agrees that the chosen areas should be prioritised in order to strengthen the university’s education and research. One of these is a digitalisation initiative that not least utilises the lessons learnt from the pandemic and the technological advances that have taken place. Another key element for this initiative is the ongoing green industrial transition to sustainable production and the huge investments in that direction made in the north of Sweden, says Chris Heister, chair of the University Board.

The University Board agrees that the chosen areas should be prioritised in order to strengthen the university’s education and research

Submitted by the organisation

The initiative includes eight overall areas based on suggested priorities submitted by the faculties, the Umeå School of Education, the University Library, the University Administration and the student unions. The initiative is also tied to overall prioritised areas such as climate and sustainability, as well as recruitment and talent attraction.

– I’m looking forward to continuing to strengthen the university’s competitive edge and make large investments into research and education. Through these initiatives, Umeå University is also taking its regional responsibility as talent attraction and sustainable community development will be in the focal point for the next decade, says Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson.

Through these initiatives, Umeå University is also taking its regional responsibility as talent attraction and sustainable community development will be in the focal point for the next decade

Strategic initiatives in eight areas

The areas included in this initiative are categories based upon the three main sections of the Vision for Umeå University – Responsibility for the Future, Collaborative Development of Knowledge, and Competitive Edge and Pride.

Responsibility for the Future

• Strengthened educational development, support and accessibility by, for instance, setting up educational services free of charge as well as making other investments at the Umeå University Library and the Centre for Educational Development, and an investment in accessibility and language support for students.
  
  
• An Arctic graduate school focusing on sustainable development with the objective to develop and coordinate the university’s Arctic research and doctoral education, and inspire interdisciplinary initiatives in the field.

Collaborative Development of Knowledge

• Strengthened education not least by revising pecuniary levels for education to increase the teacher-led time and support students’ learning, as well as investments in vocational education and training programmes and placements.

Competitive Edge and Pride

• Strengthened talent attraction with investments in doctoral education and employment of career development positions such as postdoctoral fellows and assistant professors based on the needs of each faculty. This also includes an initiative to develop and streamline the recruitment process to simplify for the employment of new staff.
  
  
• Digitalisation initiative with activities in research data management and increased IT safety to better abide by the law. This also includes an IT initiative in education to better utilise the progress that has taken place during the pandemic and use this new knowledge in developing digital methods for post-pandemic use.
  
  
• Infrastructure initiative in research and education to fortify the university’s competitive edge and promote interdisciplinarity.
  
  
• Strengthen visibility and the university brand through initiatives to develop the university’s communications and marketing not least in terms of student recruitment, but also increase awareness of the university’s researchers and research findings.
  
  
• Other initiatives can take place within the framework of this investment by orders of the Vice-Chancellor.

More details of the strategic initiative will be processed and announced in May

The University Board approval means that the Vice-Chancellor can now move forward to decide on the allocation of funds and a more detailed plan.