Rector Sofia Lundberg leaves USBE after “some fantastic years”

Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics (USBE) has over 150 employees, of which over 90 are teachers and research staff with doctoral degrees. USBE conducts research and education in business administration, economics and statistics with around 3,900 students each year.

“Since I took on my role as rector, the number of students has nearly doubled. USBE is progressing nicely,” says Sofia Lundberg.

Revised quality system raises their status

When she took over as rector after Lars Hassel in 2015, he had initiated the process for an environmental certification according to the ISO 14001 standard, and commenced the introduction of an international quality system for business schools with an accompanying accreditation. During Sofia Lundberg’s term of office, work continued and USBE achieved the ISO 14001 certification in 2015 and the international accreditation from AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in 2018.

“The accreditation is proof of the wonderful work my colleagues accomplish every day and of our research and education reaching high quality internationally. It also means that our education has a scientific backing, is relevant, is under constant improvement – and that both education and research takes place in collaboration with business and public sectors,” says Sofia Lundberg whilst adding:

“A key factor for us and business schools in the AACSB network is to make contributions to society and work to solve its challenges.”

The accreditation is reviewed every five years, and the most recent revision took place in 2023 at which USBE received renewed accreditation.

“Only around ten per cent of business schools around the world have this accreditation. It has proven valuable when it comes to international recruitment of both students and researchers, but it is also crucial in our strategic work – the quality system and the AACSB accreditation are based on nine international standards, which provides a framework for systematic developement and follow-up,” says Sofia Lundberg.

A regular day with colleagues

Sofia Lundberg describes a regular day at work as a mixture. Administrative tasks are mixed with strategising.

“How to help our programmes progress, how to attract new students, budget processes, work environment issues, preparing staff meetings, responding to documents being circulated for comments by the University Management, preparing board meetings, management tasks, trade union and student union cooperation, reviewing other international business schools for accreditation. I do not need to worry about filling my days, it’s done for me,” says Sofia Lundberg with a smile.

Together – and thanks to the accreditation – we have managed to better incorporate gender equality, diversity and other sustainability dimensions when revising and designing courses.

During her years at the school, the school has sped up work with student and alumni career guidance, and collaboration across subject borders has increased. The school has become stronger thanks to good teamwork.

“USBE is proud to have fantastic, competent and high-achieving colleagues. Together – and thanks to the accreditation – we have managed to better incorporate gender equality, diversity and other sustainability dimensions when revising and designing courses. We have, as an example, introduced an award for best thesis together with Nordea bank. The award goes to students who write excellent theses with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion. We have succeeded in raising awareness of more sustainability dimensions other than financial and environmental ones,” says Sofia Lundberg.

Continues to collaborate with the business sector

In her period of office, Sofia Lundberg has approached the business sector to collaborate. For instance to increase connection between the business sector and education, but also to assist doctoral students with funding. According to Sofia Lundberg, you need to be attentive to other’s perspectives and new developments. Although she is leaving her post as rector, she will remain in the municipal development council, which is a mixture of the business sector and academy, but also in the Swedish Competition Authority’s research council and in the reference group for public procurement at Umeå Municipality.

“I’ve had some fantastic years at USBE. I’ve had such great collaboration with the Board of USBE, and I’ve had the privilege of working with two outstanding chairpersons – first Anna Thoursie and then Louise Ring,” says Sofia Lundberg.

Sofia Lundberg completed her doctoral degree in economics at Umeå University in 2001. Her research is focused on public procurement, competition and privatisation. She is a member of the SNS Economic Policy Council and has also been appointed by the Government as a financial expert in Swedish courts.

“Now, I will continue to contribute to the University as professor of economics instead. I have quite a few external commitments left, and some new ones that I will keep in my role as professor.

At the turn of the year, she will pass on the duties as rector to Mats Bergman, whose research follows a similar track, and who is currently professor of economics at Södertörn University. He comes from Umeå and has worked together with Sofia on a number of projects in the past.

“Now, I will continue to contribute to the University as professor of economics instead. I have quite a few external commitments left, and some new ones that I will keep in my role as professor. I have some new research projects and assignments on the go with colleagues – and I’m looking forward to doing some teaching too. Handing over to Mats – whom I know well and have worked with before – feels reassuring. It’s now time to look ahead,” she says.