On Thursday 28 August, university staff were welcomed to a conversation with Vice-Chancellor Ylva Fältholm, who took office on 1 August. Questions had been submitted in advance and the conversation was moderated by Linda Vikdahl Gunséus, head of the School of Historical and Contemporary Studies.

In front of a well-filled auditorium, the new vice-chancellor sat on stage in an armchair and shared her first impressions of Södertörn University.

“I have encountered a very open and welcoming environment and I’m happy that so many people have come and introduced themselves in different contexts – in the corridors, in the lunch restaurant. I hope even more people do so! I may not remember all your names, but hopefully I’ll recognise you next time we meet.”

Most recently, Ylva worked at the University of Gävle, where she was vice-chancellor for eight years. She sees similarities between the universities, but also differences.

“The universities are roughly the same size, but Gävle has less research and slightly fewer students, with 60 per cent studying remotely. Here, I’m looking forward to seeing the campus filled with students at the start of the semester. One major challenge in Gävle was increasing the volume of research – which is also relevant at Södertörn, although we are fortunate to have the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies as an important financier.”

Academic freedom and international cooperation

Ylva also highlighted academic freedom as another, more general challenge facing higher education.

“Academic freedom is one of the cornerstones of a democratic society – it is crucial for higher education institutions to maintain a certain distance from the state, so we do not become tools used for political purposes. Another challenge presented by current global developments is responsible international cooperation, which requires increased awareness and continual discussion.”

The humanities are facing multiple threats, and we know that they have had been pushed out from universities across Europe. What is your reaction to this?

“The humanities have an extremely important role in society. We need to be able to describe and understand societal development from a range of perspectives and to relate critically to what is happening. Who decides the benefits of research and education? This is where academic freedom is again relevant. When it comes to Södertörn University, I am proud of how many subjects and programmes we have in the humanities in relation to our size. I will work to safeguard the humanities, given that we will be reviewing our educational offering.”

The university’s role and future issues

The role of university in the higher education landscape and our opportunities for achieving full university status are important issues and will be high on the agenda.

“Södertörn University came into being for reasons of regional politics, which we must both remember and emphasise. We need to participate as a key regional player. A long-term strategy is needed on the issue of full university status – what activities must be developed? But I would also like the government to make the process clear, as regards how to achieve this status. I have raised this issue regularly with ministers and secretaries of state, and I will continue to do so.”

Work on a new development plan for the university

When asked about plans for the future of the university, Ylva says that new strategy work will get underway.

“The current development plan runs to the end of December 2026, so executive management will first plan the process going forward. We need to get everyone on board and have broad participation from various groups, committees and councils.

“However, in general, I want to develop research, emphasising that our strategies are hand-in-hand with our research, for example in terms of the university’s five research platforms.”

Ylva also highlights a collegial structure as being of particular importance for research and education – where the collegial bodies should be influential.

Clarity is important

Ylva has been told that she is clear and direct - something she sees as an important quality in her role as vice-chancellor.

“Decision-making processes must be transparent and orderly. Decisions must be traceable, which is important for creating legitimacy. I regard the role of vice-chancellor as a function, so may sometimes ask whether something ‘should be sent to the vice-chancellor’, because it’s going to the function – not to me as a person.”

She also emphasises the importance of being active in the surrounding community.

“I participate in several expert groups and have commitments with the Swedish Association of Higher Education Institutions (SUHF). These not only concern raising the university’s visibility, but also about bringing knowledge back to the university from these contexts. In one working group, we are working on a new system for assessing merits, where one aspect is the societal impact of research. These ideas can be brought back here, such as to the recruitment committees.

“My strategy has always been to comment on something when I am at meetings with authorities and other stakeholders, just to give me the opportunity to introduce myself and name the university. I will be maintaining this strategy when I represent Södertörn University!”