News from the VH Faculty meeting on December 11

2021–2025 strategy

In spring 2019, SLU began developing a new university strategy. At the VH Faculty, we have started work on this by organising workshops and inspirational seminars. Dirk-Jan de Koning gave the faculty board an update on this work, which will continue at a meeting with heads of department on 15–16 January.

Agricultural science programmes and the land-based industries

A review of the agricultural science programmes is underway. Dialogue meetings with the land-based industries are part of this review. The second of three planned meetings has just been held, with the purpose of discussing how to improve the agricultural science programmes.

Johanna Penell, vice dean responsible for undergraduate programmes, notes that the meetings were very productive and rewarding. So far these meetings have resulted in, among other things, a description of the professional role of agronomist and a wording of the purpose of these programmes, both of which were shared with the faculty board.

One important, concrete message to the board was to encourage teachers and researchers to attend the business days.

The third and last dialogue meeting will take place in April 2020.

Recruitment

The faculty board decided to appoint six new docents: The docent lectures were held on 18 November. Summary of all lectures (in Swedish only).

The Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health has applied for an extension of an adjunct post as professor of environmentally related disease control. The faculty board decided to recommend the vice-chancellor to approve an extension.

The Department of Clinical Sciences has applied for an extension of a position as visiting professor in small animal surgery. The faculty board decided to recommend the vice-chancellor to approve an extension.

Fundraising at the VH Faculty

Fundraising has been part of our operations since 2013, something which has resulted in SEK 112 million of research funding.

Åsa Formo is our new fundraiser at the VH Faculty Office, taking over from Christine Jakobsson who now works with fundraising at a central level. Åsa explained what fundraising is, and what the VH organisation and approach look like.

She emphasised her need for contacts with everyone at the faculty, and during spring she will be visiting all departments. Don’t hesitate to contact Åsa if you have questions on fundraising.

Finances

The dean approved the final allocation of funds on 12 November. Faculty Financial Officer Inger Alderborn summarised the result.

Next faculty board meeting

• 15­–16 January – dean, faculty board and heads of department work together on the 2021–2025 strategy
• 6 February – faculty board meeting