Letter from the Dean

In many ways, this has been a good year for our faculty. We remain extraordinarily successful in research, postgraduate education, and environmental analysis. At the faculty level, for instance, we have made a series of excellent appointments to higher academic positions. It will be exciting to follow the continued careers of these newly recruited researchers and teachers at SLU.

One challenge, which we had indeed anticipated but which has become very tangible in our budget dialogues with the departments, is that declining student numbers in many of our programs are creating financial difficulties. Work is ongoing at various levels to address this issue.

On the other hand, there are successes in undergraduate education. A few weeks ago, we received the government’s decision that SLU will be able to award degrees for civil engineers. We will establish a program in "Civil Engineering in Agricultural and Forestry Systems" to meet the demand for expertise as digitalization, automation, and AI are applied in the green sector. This is a significant achievement for the university.

Another major change is that much of the faculty and departmental leadership will be replaced during the first half of 2025. In fact, no leader with responsibilities for finances, personnel, and work environment currently has an assignment extending beyond that point. Naturally, many leaders will have their assignments renewed, but there will be a new faculty leadership as Sara and I step down at the end of the year. However, I have no concerns; I have complete confidence in Noél and Pelle and wish them the best of luck in their roles as Dean and Deputy Dean!

For me personally, a major change awaits. I have chosen not to continue my professorship—it has been too long since I last held it—so I will retire at the end of the year. I hope to remain connected to SLU in some way in the future, but I plan to spend the first few months simply reflecting. There is much to look back on, process, and ponder. At this point, one cannot truly know what will be missed, cherished, or even regretted, but I am absolutely certain that I will miss the many, many friends among the hundreds of people I have gotten to know during nine years as Dean.

As I have noted in previous years, we are a fantastic faculty in every sense, and Sara and I are truly proud of it. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

Best regards, Torleif