News from the management
Last changed: 10 November 2026
November is here, and we’re already in the second half of the semester. After the busy and enjoyable start to the academic year, we have settled into our daily routines: teaching, supervision, lectures, assessments, funding applications, sketching, lab work, publishing, conferences and more. Our work is certainly varied and rewarding.
Working hard also means making time to recharge, so it’s good news that our wellness allowance will increase to SEK 3,000 next year. Make the most of it – perhaps by trying a new form of exercise?
Funding allocations and operational plan
This autumn, the faculty leadership and faculty board have been working on funding allocations for 2027. We have also started to draw up the faculty’s strategic operational plan for 2026–2030, based on SLU’s strategy and with input from the faculty board and heads of department. This will serve as a guide for our activities and provide a clear direction for the future. Each department can then begin translating it into practical action.
Research infrastructures and researchers succes in funding
The faculty leadership has also reviewed applications and agreed on co-funding for research infrastructure. Several facilities will receive continued support, including SLU Sensola, SLU Proteinfabriken, SLU Food Lab and the SLU Landscape Lab. A new addition is SLU Living Lab Apple.
We are delighted and proud that in recent weeks, researchers at the faculty have secured funding from the Swedish Research Council, Formas, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency. We hope these successes will lead to more, and the faculty has several initiatives under way to encourage researchers to apply for funding. One is a research excellence initiative for 2027–2030, which the faculty board will decide on before the end of the year to further strengthen research at the faculty.
Quality assurance discussions about education
It’s also been a busy period in education, with decisions on course schedules and new course syllabuses, preparation of funding allocation proposals, and upcoming quality assurance discussions and evaluations of three Master’s programmes: Sustainable Urban Development, Outdoor Environments for Health and Well-Being, and Food and Landscape. The external reviewers have submitted their reports, with many positive comments and plenty to build on as we continue improving these programmes.
Next year, we will evaluate our two programmes in landscape architecture as well as the two Master’s programmes, Landscape Architecture and Landscape Architecture for Sustainable Urbanisation.
The Student Welfare Council and others have also called for more consistent use of microphones in lectures. We therefore ask all lecturers to use the microphones provided so that all students can hear you clearly. Please also report any faulty equipment so that we can have it fixed.
The programme board for landscape and horticulture is planning an LTV education conference on 3 February. Please save the date!
SLU celebrate 50 years as a university
Looking ahead, we have an anniversary year to look forward to: In 2027, SLU will celebrate 50 years as a university. Read more about the celebrations here: https://internt.slu.se/en/targeted-info/slu50/
As part of the celebrations, the faculty plans to open up some of its research facilities to visitors and offer guided tours of our beautiful campuses. We also hope to revive Alnarp Day in some form. More details will follow in the new year.
The LTV representatives responsible for SLU Jubilee 2027 are the Dean, Deputy Dean, Vice-Dean and Head of Faculty office. If you have any input, ideas or thoughts, please share them with us via the shared email address: LTVJubileum2027@slu.se
For Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm
On the subject of celebrations, the ceremonies for the For Zealous and Devoted Service of the Realm award will take place in Ultuna on 19 November and Alnarp on 4 December. The award recognises 30 years of government service. Please join us to celebrate colleagues who have contributed to SLU’s success over so many years. More information: https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/professional-development/utmarkelser/distinction-zealous-and-devoted-service/
Finally, on the theme of long service at SLU, we would like to send our best wishes to our former dean and colleague Håkan Schroeder, who is retiring after many years at the university. We celebrated a week or so ago with both laughter and tears, and wish Håkan all the best for his retirement.
For the rest of us, work continues. As the days grow shorter and darker and we spend more time indoors, I hope you all can find energy and focus in your work.