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Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science, faculty office, Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science, faculty office manageme
There’s something charming about walking around Alnarp Park on a cold early winter’s day. The leaves have fallen off the trees and bushes, colours muted, the light subdued. Capturing some of the waning rays of sunlight, as they stubbornly break through the clouds is especially important – even on the dreariest of days.
As always, the Christmas break is characterised by a sense of rushing towards the finish line. A lot is going on at the moment and everyone is working hard to finalise or begin tasks ahead of next year.
As you probably know, a project is ongoing to improve our websites. The main reason behind this because our old web publishing program has passed its sell by date and a new system needs to be introduced. In conjunction with this changeover, we will also be reviewing the entire web content and how work with the website is structured. Search the staff web for the FALK website project for more information.
The long-term network renewable project continues, albeit somewhat delayed. Alnarp-wise, this has meant replacing old cable systems. The Alnarp 2.0 network will be activated during the first half of next year, but the schedule remains flexible.
Work to review and obtain better control over the university’s IT assets is ongoing as part of the overall IT infrastructure project. As it stands, we are lacking an overview of our available assets, what needs to be replaced in terms of security, and especially for us to be able to streamline and economise how IT materials are processed.
You can read more about these projects on the staff web.
Eleonore Hammare was recently given charge of our IT development and Eleonore will take up the position of head of unit in February.
Another interesting project I’ve participated in as a board member aims to improve support for undergraduate courses and programmes. Three recently established project groups have proposed renewed processes for the programme pages, AV equipment and room bookings. These areas will be examined again ahead of the forthcoming decision. Hopefully, this work will result in smoother processes and eventually improve our appeal as an education provider.
On the education side, I have also been made aware that SLU has the opportunity to offer so-called educational activities to individual companies and private individuals. We should follow how the university approaches this unique chance with great interest.
The campus project continues and we have highlighted and emphasised the need to integrate a more overarching approach for including long-term and sustainable water provision for the campus. We have also indicated a need for detailed studies of water drainage. Hopefully, this will enable us to optimise the way we use our cultivation areas – both those used for research and teaching, and those used for forestry and agricultural operations – based on the conditions we have.
In terms of cultivation areas, we are working with the Division of Estate Management to obtain a better idea of how they are and could be used. As we all know, the land around us is one of SLU’s unique assets, thus places such as the Biotron, greenhouses and labs are central to our activities. While the campus projects are chugging along, an in-depth study of the strategic premises availability is ongoing. Stay tuned!
Finally, I’d like to mention that I recently received the medal for Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm. My first ever job was in Gislaved towards the end of the 1970s. I was a postman working for Kungliga Postverket – the Swedish Royal Mail. For me, this is a nice way of connecting with the medal recipients in my family from the generations before me; my maternal grandfather who ended his career as the postmaster in Höganäs, my paternal grandfather who began as a navvy, and retired as SJ station master. And of course my father, who spent the majority of his professional life working in government schools.
And on this personal note, I will end with wishing you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Håkan Sandgren
Head of Faculty Administration