News from the Faculty Management

The year 2025 is drawing to a close, much has happened during the year, and we are increasingly becoming accustomed to living in a rapidly changing geopolitical world. Therefore, it is all the more important to focus on the positive development and to take pride in everything that we at the faculty have achieved together during 2025.

Overall, things are going very well for SLU and for our faculty. At LTV, we have been successful in this year’s calls for funding, with several major grants awarded, increased allocations to SLU Grogrund, one SLU career grant, two Formas career grants, and two Future BULs, to mention just a few examples. Our teachers have made fantastic efforts in teaching despite the challenges we face regarding student numbers and the GU economy. Our professional support staff have provided excellent help and support through thick and thin. And we must not forget all our wonderful students, who enrich themselves, our teachers, and our campus through mutual learning.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all new colleagues who have been recruited during the year and who contribute to making our faculty even richer in knowledge. It is truly inspiring and motivating to be dean of this faculty with such competent and committed colleagues, and I look forward with great joy and enthusiasm to 2026 together with you.

Our new subject areas in 2026

On 5 November, the Faculty Board decided on our 20 new subject areas after a long process. We are now safely in port, and the new subject areas will apply from 1 January 2026. New and continuing subject area coordinators are also in the process of being appointed by the heads of department. We have created a new website where you can read more about the subject areas and who the subject area coordinators are.

During the spring, we plan to bring together all our subject area coordinators with the aim of creating a forum for them to meet across departmental boundaries.

All heads of department are now appointed and in place

During 2025, we have worked intensively to appoint heads of department for our departments for the term of office 1 July 2025–30 June 2028. Mats Gyllin (IMS), Ingrid Sarlöv-Herlin (LAPF), and Stina Powell (SoL) have all been given renewed confidence for the new term—congratulations to you! We have also welcomed new heads of department: Kristina Karlsson Green (VSB), Dennis Eriksson (VF), and Lise Lykke Steffensen (BT)—welcome and congratulations to you as well! I very much look forward to working with you as heads of department in the coming years.

Save the date for Faculty Day

I would also like to give you advance notice that our Faculty Day will take place on 28 August 2026, from 9:00 to 13:00. The purpose of the Faculty Day will be community building and getting to know one another. Please mark this date in your Outlook calendar and take part in our shared effort to build an academic culture together. More information and an exciting programme will follow during spring 2026.

Västra Noden

Västra Noden is a complex project in which many interests, needs, functions, building permits, sustainability aspects, work environment considerations, aesthetics, finances, and more must be taken into account—it is not simply a matter of starting construction.

Here is the current status: At the end of August this year, SLU submitted an order to Akademiska Hus regarding an additional pre-study for Västra Noden. The procured architect was not able to process the order immediately, but now, at the end of November, a proposal outlining the approach and cost has been presented. Shortly, the steering committee for the Västra Noden construction project will make a decision regarding the structure of the pre-study and whether to proceed with a call-off in accordance with the proposal.

The need for an additional pre-study originates from the fact that the pre-study delivery provided by Akademiska Hus in June 2025 does not support an efficient and improved laboratory structure. For the Västra Noden project, laboratory activities are central, and in order to move the project forward we need to build on pre-study documentation in which laboratory structure, interconnections, dimensions, and opportunities for collaboration are of such quality that as many stakeholders as possible see the potential to continue working with the proposal.

The proposed plan runs from SLU’s call-off through April 2026. The final delivery is dependent on the laboratory group within the project contributing and dedicating the necessary time to enable the architects to develop a functional sketch proposal that can be costed and approved by the laboratory group and the project group, and subsequently for the steering committee to decide to submit the material to the Infrastructure Group (ISG) for the Director’s decision on whether to proceed to the programme phase. More information about Västra Noden can be found here.

I fully understand that the process and the time it takes can feel frustrating, but please do not lose patience or faith that Västra Noden will be realised—for it will be! We in the faculty management and at the central level are doing our utmost to ensure progress in the project in collaboration with Akademiska Hus. At the same time, extensive work is ongoing together with Akademiska Hus to ensure that the work environment in the existing premises is addressed while we await the completion of Västra Noden.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Last but not least, a big thank you to you all for your efforts and commitment throughout 2025. With that, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year—however you choose to celebrate this season.

Remember to enjoy a well-deserved and restful break, and I look forward to seeing you in January 2026.

Christina