Updated platform for strategic work with initiatives for international impact

Published 1 May 2024

There is now an updated platform for strategic work which will guide our initiatives between 2025 and 2027. This update is an important part of our efforts to remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing world.

The world around us is becoming increasingly unpredictable and complex, and in order to meet the new challenges we must act more quickly and in new ways. The platform for strategic work is our tool for focusing and accelerating our development work at the same time as it fosters cooperation and dialogue throughout the University.

By using the platform for guidance, we can structure our work and inspire new initiatives. It will provide a foundation for the University’s plan of operations as well as the boards’ and councils’ plans. Additionally, it will provide an important source of inspiration for the strategic and prioritising work on the part of the faculties, departments and central administration. The platform is a tool for focusing, accelerating, structuring and inspiring development work.

International initiatives are an important part of the more concrete work on the updated platform. Increased competition requires that we intensify our efforts to gain international impact for our operations. This includes continuing the excellent international work we already carry out while at the same time reaching the next level by raising our visibility and our academic reputation.

Several areas have been identified in which we can improve our international collaborations, including exchanges with other universities and participating in international projects and networks. By exploiting these opportunities, the University will be able to broaden our perspectives and strengthen our research and education.

I encourage all of you to get involved in these international initiatives and consider applying for funding for collaboration and mobility. By working together, we can maximise our potential and continue to be at the forefront of our respective fields.

New and future affiliations to the EU’s Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation bring with them many opportunities for increased collaboration with higher education institutions in countries such as Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Established collaborations also exist via the LERU, U21 and EUGLOH networks. Good work is done within these networks, forming a natural base for future exchange. An interesting new opportunity is collaboration with Korean universities via SKERIC, an international project coordinated by Lund University.

We also need to improve our communication around the University’s innovation work concerning everything from the innovations that result in start-ups to innovative thinking that might for example lead to better administrative processes.

Providing the conditions for more doctoral students to conduct parts of their doctoral studies at another international university is another area for improvement. International experience during doctoral studies is priceless.

The common theme in much of the work on international impact is to intensify international collaborations, which is why we are now announcing a call for applications for funding aimed at enabling collaborations with and visits to partner universities.

/ Kristina Eneroth

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