Before summer, the University Board started the process of finding a Vice-Chancellor for the next term of office. The position is advertised, and the nomination process is ongoing. An interesting task to observe from the sideline as current Vice-Chancellor. My term of office ends on 30 June 2023, and I have settled on not running for another three years.
The University of Gothenburg is a fantastic university with both breadth and depth. Our university has outstanding education and research in all scientific fields, high appeal, and strong competitiveness. In short, we have a huge range of courses and programmes offered, excellent research, and a strong focus on complete environments. We systematically work with quality assurance within both education and research.
We are a university in the centre of the city that even profiles itself as the Knowledge City of Gothenburg. Locally and regionally, there is great will, structure and well-functioning collaboration and cooperation arenas. With the European university alliance EUTOPIA and several other international networks, we have tied the world closer to us. We have good relationships with the student organisations who, through their student representatives, ensure that we become even better and develop the quality. The University of Gothenburg is a university for the world, with a clear focus on internationalisation and sustainability. In the last few years, we have taken great strides in this work, not least within the Climate Framework and measures in line with this and strengthened international contact areas.
But there is still much to do. I have no intention whatsoever to slow down but intend to keep working, and in some cases finish, as much as possible of what we have started to make the transition to a new Vice-Chancellor as smooth as possible. Almost a full year remains of my term of office and the most important thing to me is to hand over a university in good condition. Something that is improved and renewed!
I sincerely believe and hope that many suitable candidates will apply for this position. It is truly a privilege to be entrusted with leading the University of Gothenburg. It requires wholehearted commitment, good endurance, and persistence. And most importantly – it requires good dialogue with, and support from, professional and solution-focused colleagues. Which you will also find here in the form of roughly 6,500 highly competent employees.
I wish you a warm welcome here. Eventually.
Eva Wiberg