Jane Reichel: Collegiality in times of election

While other administrative authorities are tasked with implementing agreed policies within their remit and companies with making a profit based on market demand, the primary task of universities – according to Chapter 1, Section 2 of the Higher Education Act – is to provide teaching, research and collaboration based on scholarship. Furthermore, Chapter 2, Section 6(1) of the Higher Education Act states that decisions regarding the quality of education and research are to be made by individuals with research or artistic competence. What constitutes acceptable scholarship is thus ultimately determined by the collegiums within the subject, the individual research group, the faculty and the academic community at the national and international levels. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to be part of a collegium and to participate in an ongoing critical dialogue about what is scientifically sound within one’s own subject area.

The collegium is also the backbone of the collegial decision-making model that characterises Stockholm University’s internal governance and decision-making structure. At SU, we have ensured that decisions regarding the quality of education and research are taken by collegial bodies, area boards, faculty boards and department boards, which are led by collegially elected representatives, deans and – albeit more indirectly and in a different order – heads of department. Preparations are currently underway for the autumn elections, with nomination committees working to draw up proposals for deans and members of the collegial bodies. Once the votes of colleagues have been counted, the university’s collegial representatives for the coming three-year term can be appointed.

The conditions under which universities operate are also largely governed by political decisions, and this autumn’s general election may have implications for universities. One of the issues on which the newly elected Parliament and Government will have to take a stance is the report to be presented in spring 2027 by the inquiry into a more appropriate organisational form for state universities and colleges. The situation in other countries also affects us, not least the turbulent developments in the USA, where mid-term elections are also due to take place this autumn. It is our quiet hope that our collegial representatives for the coming three-year term will be able to work on quality in education and research under conditions that are both calmer and, ultimately, more conducive than those we have experienced in recent times.

This text is written by Jane Reichel, Vice President. It appears in the section ”Words from the University’s senior management team”, where the management team take turns to write about topical issues. The section appears in every edition of News for staff.