Who Runs the University?

Ownership

The ultimate responsibility for the University rests with the Swedish government. The University is externally validated by the Swedish education authorities. The University is funded from both government money and funding raised elsewhere.

Leadership

The University Board is the University's highest decision-making body. The Board comprises the Vice-Chancellor, representatives of the teaching staff and students, and representatives of the community and business sector.  The community and business sector representatives make up the majority.

After the Board, the Vice-Chancellor is responsible for leading the University's activities. The current Vice-Chancellor is Per Eriksson. He is fully involved with all the key strategic and financial decisions regarding the University and ensures a coherent vision in all the many activities taking place on the campus.

The University is divided into eight main faculties. The faculties are led by faculty boards, which have overall responsibility for the activities in the faculties. These boards have representation from the teaching staff, students, the community and business sector, with the teaching staff forming the majority. Under the faculty boards are bodies responsible for specific areas: education, research, libraries, etc.

Education, research and development are usually carried out in the departments and other units. These are usually led by boards with representatives of teaching staff and students. Some of the University's activities do not come under the faculties, but rather are common service functions, specialist research institutes or centres with a multi-disciplinary focus.

The University also has a range of administrative groups responsible for functions including funding, planning, information and maintenance.

University Advisory Board

The University Advisory Board (UAB) is a university-wide board made up of prominent international academics who follow and assess the University’s activities over several years in terms of research, first-, second- and third-cycle education and the management of the University.

Quality assurance

The state authority for higher education, the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education, has the responsibility for ensuring that high standards and continuous evaluation are maintained. Universities which fail to meet the required standard lose the right to award degrees. Students are heavily involved with the process of evaluation.

Internal quality assurance and evaluation is carried out by the University Office of Evaluation.