Congratulations on your new role! Can you tell us a bit about what it involves?
Thank you! I’m really excited to take on this role and to focus on strengthening the connection between our programmes and the society around us. My role will be quite varied, with several important areas of responsibility, but overall it’s about enhancing the faculty’s collaboration with industry, the public sector and alumni – and about showing just how socially relevant our programmes actually are.
What will you be working on first?
I’d like to start by familiarising myself with our programmes and courses to get a comprehensive picture of what the faculty offers, preferably in close dialogue with our study counsellors. This will form the foundation when I reach out to companies or support students looking for internships or thesis placements. The better we understand what we offer, the better we can present it externally – and, for instance, attract more companies to take part in our ATLAS Career Fair.
When I listen to various business forums, I often hear that there’s a shortage of certain types of expertise in Sweden – but much of that expertise already exists within our programmes. We therefore need to communicate more effectively and show what kinds of knowledge our natural science students possess, and how they can complement engineers, for example, with their specialised and in-depth expertise.
Another important aspect of the role, which has really followed me throughout my career, is keeping an eye on the world around us. The needs for knowledge and skills are changing rapidly, and as a faculty we need to stay ahead and think proactively about how to meet those future demands. Staying attuned to developments in society is an integral part of how I work, and it’s something I’ll bring into this role as well.
Looking a few years ahead – what do you hope this initiative will achieve?
My vision is that businesses, public authorities and organisations will recognise our faculty and know what skills our students bring – much like many people already associate LTH and the Faculty of Medicine with certain areas of expertise. We need to be clearer about what we do and how our programmes contribute to society. It’s about increasing visibility and building understanding of the skills our students actually have.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Getting to interact more with the students! I want to understand their needs and how we can further develop opportunities for internships and connections to working life. Our students are incredibly ambitious and engaged – something that’s clear from the ATLAS Career Fair and LUNA’s work.
As the faculty’s representative for contract education, I’m also looking forward to building more strategic collaborations and partnerships with the business community. In the long run, that can create ripple effects that benefit the entire faculty. Together with our labour market coordinator, Malin Olbe, I also hope to strengthen our relationships with alumni and gain a better understanding of where they go after graduation – valuable insights for both us and our students.
