The Vice-Chancellor's blog

Welcome to Luleå University of Technology's Vice-Chancellor Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn's blog.

Latest posts

AI tools in education

2023-03-23 The AI tool ChatGPT has received significant media attention due to its ability to produce more coherent texts than any previous AI tool. This has led to questions and ideas about the potential impact of AI tools on education and learning. In our organization, both positive and negative aspects have...

Vice-chancellors meet new Minister for Education

2023-02-02 The vice-chancellors of Sweden’s higher education institutions recently met for our annual conference in Steningevik, where we were joined by the Minister for Education and his staff. Arranged by the Swedish Higher Education Authority, the conference is always interesting and rewarding, offering us ...

The EU Commission's visit focused on northern Sweden

2023-01-19 A new year has begun and last week the world’s gaze turned to Kiruna as Sweden took over the Presidency of the European Union. Two major items on the agenda were natural resources and space research, both important business areas for Europe and the world. More EU meetings will be held around the cou...

Thank you for all the fantastic work you have done this year!

2022-12-19 The year is coming to an end, and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all employees for the work you have done during the year, you are valuable to the university and your efforts are of great importance to our society. This year, major external events have affected us and our o...

Vice-Chancellor’s Blog: Delta Block is now a Campus Luleå project

2022-12-12 As the year draws to a close, we can safely say that 2022 has been eventful. From a global perspective, the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February has cast a shadow over all else. A war that many, Russia included, believed would be short-lived, until Ukraine confounded expectations with its comb...

We and the world are facing turbulent times

2022-10-03 We are getting used to a high level of uncertainty and to some extent it feels like the current situation has become our new normal. In two, three years we have dealt with a global pandemic, unique in modern times. Just as it began to disappear in several parts of the world, Russia invaded Ukraine a...

High-level meetings in focus

2022-09-07 Now we are already in the month of September and all students are finally in place at our campus locations. It's back to full speed and I'm looking forward to an exciting autumn. Lately, there has been a focus on high-level meetings with our strategic partners.

Hope you had a good holiday

2022-08-10 It's strange how quickly four weeks go by when you're on vacation.

Iran must release Ahmadreza Djalali

2022-06-29 On Wednesday morning, an open letter from rectors, vice chancellors and presidents at Swedish universities will be published, regarding Ahmadreza Djalili, who has been imprisoned in Iran for six years.

Happy Midsummer!

2022-06-23 Suddenly it's June and Midsummer. For many of you, this means that the holiday begins while others have to wait a few more weeks for vacation.
A much-needed time off given how 2022 has developed so far, the challenges of a pandemic that was replaced by a war in Ukraine that is still ongoing.

We must have a culture where it is clear that harassment is not accepted

2022-05-20 For the first time, Swedish higher education institutions have conducted a joint national survey on the prevalence of gender-based and sexual harassment in the academic sector. The responses show that doctoral students who are women are particularly at risk.

About the government's strategic research initiative

2022-04-19 Before Easter, a meeting was held between the academy and research funders Formas, Forte, Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council.

Ministerial visit with discussions on Ukraine

2022-03-25 Earlier this week, we had a visit from Minister for Education Anna Ekström and her staff.

An attack on the entire open society

2022-03-02 There is war in Europe. A democratic country has been invaded by its own neighbor with great human suffering as a result. The attack is on Ukraine, but also on the entire open and free society, of which we universities are a key part.

"A great investment"

2022-02-23 The new year has really started at full speed. The Corona restrictions have ended and the University has several new and exciting initiatives underway.

Vice-Chancellors met the new Minister

2022-01-20 Every year in January, all Vice-Chancellor meet at a conference, arranged by SUHF and UKÄ.

The importance of a good research infrastructure

2022-01-11 Research infrastructure is crucial to be able to conduct relevant, high-quality research.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2021-12-20 Another year has passed and 2021 is coming to an end, and with it our 50th anniversary year. It has been a year when we have reflected on the time that has passed and how our university has grown and developed, but also a year when we have thought about how we can continue to evolve.

A grand week!

2021-11-16 The academic week is always the highlight of the year.
We were able to carry out the first major event as part of our 50th celebration – the anniversary concert. The joy of being able to meet again has been evident at all events, which have really exceeded all expectations.

"The change of this law affects individuals, higher education institutions and Sweden"

2021-10-18 As I believe that many of you have already noticed in the media, the Swedish Aliens Act was changed on 20 July 2021 with new special requirements for permanent residence permit.

The importance of responsible conduct of research

2021-08-30 On 1 January 2020, the Act on responsibility for good research practice and the examination of research misconduct (Act 2019: 504) came into effect. For the first time, the concept of misconduct in research was defined in Swedish law. The law clarifies that it is the researcher who is responsible fo...

Welcome to a new semester!

2021-08-17 A new semester will soon start and I am looking forward to welcoming our new students to our university, although the welcome will be digitally mediated.

Have a nice summer!

2021-06-30 Time flies – this is the last working week for many of you before the vacation. I want to wish you all a nice summer and a long and relaxing holiday.

Magna Charta Universitatum strengthens the ties between universities

2021-06-18 Over 900 universities from a large number of countries have signed the Magna Charta Universitatum – a declaration on academic freedom and the role of universities in society. The aim is to draw attention to the deep values that exist in university traditions and to encourage strong ties between univ...

"We demand funds for investments of great importance"

2021-05-26 Once a year, all higher education institutions have a so-called authority dialogue where we meet for 90 minutes with the state secretary or the deputy director-general and other administrators from the Ministry of Education and Research.

New model for quality-based resource allocation

2021-04-20 Last week, The Swedish Research Council, Formas, FORTE and Vinnova invited higher education institutions to a meeting to present and discuss the task of developing proposals for a model for quality-based resource allocation of universities and colleges for research and education at doctoral level.

In the center of the global transformation

2021-04-15 There is a lot happening in our two regions, Norrbotten and Västerbotten. It goes fast and is both exciting and challenging.

Major investment in our research infrastructure

2021-03-29 The importance of research infrastructure and laboratory environments has increased over the years and is crucial for us as a university to be able to conduct outstanding research and education of high quality. To ensure access to important equipment, the university has for a number of years set asi...

Record investments in the north and the University's important role in the supply of skills

2021-03-03 The opportunity to attract the expertise needed to ensure competitive companies and well-functioning, high-quality community services is a challenge that Sweden shares with many countries around the world.

Agreement with Akademiska Hus

2021-02-19 An end and a new beginning – the University and Akademiska Hus has reached an agreement on the compensation for the past years.

Congratulations to all of us!

2021-01-01 Happy New Year and a big congratulations to all of us on our 50th birthday! 2021 is the year when we begin our anniversary celebrations.

Happy Holidays

2020-12-18 Christmas is near, 2020 is coming to an end and we have finally some snow on the ground that lights up the darkest time of the year.

"A violation of global responsibilities"

2020-12-08 In recent years, a number of events have occurred that clearly violate global responsibility when it comes to climate and health-related challenges, fundamental democratic values and academic freedom. Two such examples have caused several Swedish university vice-chancellors to react.

Academic ceremony and stricter corona guidelines

2020-11-13 The spread of infection in the counties where the University operates has increased sharply in recent weeks. Both Norrbotten and Västerbotten have been given stricter restrictions, and we must all take our responsibility and follow current guidelines and recommendations.

The pandemic affects research funding

2020-09-22 As a consequence of the corona pandemic, some research funders already in the spring said that their research budget for 2020 and the next few years probably will be smaller than normal.

Too high risk with holding Scholastic Aptitude Test

2020-09-01 There has been a lot of discussion about this autumn's Scholastic Aptitude Test. Carrying out the test would unfortunately entail an increased risk of spreading the coronavirus, according to me and 20 other Vice-Chancellors for Swedish universities.

Welcome back after the holidays!

2020-08-17 Hope you had a nice holiday with a chance to relax, although the summer has certainly been different in many ways in these corona times.

Have a good summer

2020-06-29 I want to take the opportunity to wish all of you a good summer.

The pandemic increases the need for education

2020-06-04 Last week, a number of issues, most of them related to the current corona situation, were discussed with Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans.

Vice-Chancellor's blog: Campus education from the autumn

2020-05-29 The Government has today, May 29, informed that the activities at Swedish universities can return to a more normal situation from this autumn. The requirement for distance education will be lifted in two weeks.

Important events at the University

2020-05-14 Although much of our professional and private lives, in one way or another, revolve around covid-19, it is important that we do not lose focus and commitment to our various assignments. I would therefore like to inform you about some important events that are currently taking place at Luleå Universi...

The Vice-Chancellor's blog: "We are preparing for different scenarios"

2020-04-28 Many of us at the University have started planning for graduation as well as for the autumn study start.
This raises many questions and concerns – no one knows at what stage of covid-19 Sweden will be in the coming months and therefore not what directives and recommendations will apply. This means...

Happy Easter

2020-04-08 Easter is approaching and I hope you all have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful season between winter and spring.

"Thank you for your understanding and trust"

2020-03-27 "It feels almost unreal that it has been just over a week since the government announced that the universities' teaching and assessment will be carried out remotely.

About the coronavirus

2020-03-16 To slow down the spread of the coronavirus is at the top of the agenda in Sweden and the world. The situation is changing day by day and as a university and as individuals, we are affected by quick decisions made by authorities, companies and politicians nationally and internationally.

Conversation with Matilda Ernkrans

2020-01-30 January 2020 has been an eventful month. The Swedish Vice-Chancellors met in Steningevik for our annual conference, which is organized by the The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions and the the Swedish Higher Education Authority. According to tradition, our Minister for Higher Educa...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2019-12-19 It's fourth Advent this Sunday, and the Christmas holidays are approaching for most of us.
When I look back on the past year, many positive events come to mind. Our new vision is what I am most proud of and I really look forward to working with you all to realize it.

When is an educational environment for researchers too small?

2019-12-02 The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) has evaluated 123 postgraduate courses in 17 research subjects between 2017 and 2019. UKÄ has also recently published a report that contains an in-depth analysis of these postgraduate programs and their size: "Small postgraduate education environments – C...

Research quality and reproducibility

2019-10-28 Last week, I was in Stockholm at the Federal Assembly of Swedish universities (SUHFs förbundsförsamling). The focus of the day was Research Quality and Reproducibility; probably the most important subject we researchers have to reflect and debate upon.

Implementation of Vision 2030

2019-09-12

Summer greeting from the Vice-Chancellor

2019-06-27 Midsummer is behind us and June is nearing its end. This means that the holiday is imminent for most of us and that some have already begun their leave.

The Vice-Chancellor's blog: Our premises – the current situation

2019-06-11 This blog post is only available in Swedish.

Important review of number of female professors

2019-04-09 The debate on the proportion of female professors at Swedish and foreign universities is not new, but the fact that this subject still creates headlines is an indication that we have not succeeded particularly in changing the imbalance.

Looking back on an eventful year

2019-03-29 2018 was my first full year as Vice-chancellor of Luleå University of Technology. That a lot happens in a year becomes clear when I see research, education, development and collaboration summed up in our annual report.

About the future governance of Swedish universities

2019-03-13 This blog post is only available in Swedish.

On the vision and our premises

2019-02-14 We are facing an exciting but also challenging year. In 2019, we will work intensely to further clarify our vision by concretising core concepts such as innovative education and ground-breaking research results; challenge-driven university and interdisciplinary education and research.

Christmas greetings from the Vice-Chancellor

2018-12-19 Once again we are approaching the end of a year – my first year as the Vice-chancellor of Luleå University of Technology.
I would like to thank you all for the work you have done during the year and for the support you have given me in my new role.
I am very happy and proud that I have the honor ...