Changes in Mid Sweden University's council structure
To strengthen strategic discussions and coordination, a new council structure is being introduced at Mid Sweden University, which will be decided by the Vice-Chancellor in February this year.
In order to better meet the strategic challenges and opportunities we face, Mid Sweden University will carry out a reorganization of its council structure. The changes aim to create a more unified forum for education and research issues, and to ensure that important strategic decisions are handled in an early and well-prepared manner.
Background to the change
Mid Sweden University is facing some major processes and changes of a strategic nature. These include, among other things, merit assessment, recruitment, open science, CoARA as well as research links in education and educational links in research. Several of these issues will require strategic discussions where education and research are discussed jointly.
In addition, there are financial cuts and thus the need for strategic decisions that include all activities at the university. It is also important that the management council gets involved early on major strategic issues.
Planned changes
Dismantling of the education and research councils
Instead, these issues are integrated into the Management Council in order to coordinate education and research issues of a strategic nature. The management council will also have more physical meetings.
New review panel linked to the Management Council
In order to speed up sharp discussions in the Management Council at an early stage, a preparatory body will be established based on the dean's reconciliation meetings that have taken place in recent years. The review panel also further strengthens the link between the management council's agenda and the work of the faculty boards.
Working groups in the Management Council
The members of the Council will work in ad hoc working groups in which different groupings will deal with issues for shorter or longer periods of time. The working groups will enable the members to contribute more actively to strategic issues. Deputy Vice-Chancellors will continue to monitor their specific areas of responsibility for the Council.
Extended discussions on research and education issues
A couple of times per semester, the review panel will be expanded with the faculty boards' previously appointed representatives to the Research Council and the Education Council. This is in order to maintain the collegial connection at the university-wide level.
New education coordination body
In order to continue to coordinate operational and technical education issues between the faculties, a new education coordination body will be established. The task is to discuss and pursue faculty-wide educational issues and coordination issues and, where deemed appropriate, to prepare such issues for the Management Council.
It is proposed that the education coordination body be led by the central director of education and otherwise staffed with the chairs of the faculties' undergraduate education councils, administrators from the faculty offices and student representatives.
Other councils
The doctoral student council will continue in its current form.
The Library Council will be evaluated in 2025 for any changes.
The Council for Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities, the Council for Research Integrity and the Council for Good Research Practice will remain unchanged until further notice. However, proposed legislative changes may require adjustments by the Research Ethics Council.
Timetable for implementation
The changes have begun and will come into force gradually from February 2025.