NEWS Umeå University and Linköping University have initiated a collaboration to develop the activities at the respective universities and to strengthen the universities' positions in the national and international arena.
“Our universities are similar and we have the same vision for the future development of many issues, says Göran Sandberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. “We have each worked with the profiling of our research, and measures to raise quality and update education at the undergraduate level. This has led to the successful progress of the two universities,” he continued.
“This is a unique collaboration that is not based on geographical proximity, but on a consensus on major educational and research policy issues,” says Mille Millnert, Rector of Linköping University. “These are two universities, both of which have very high ambitions and complement each other in key areas.”
Some of the specific items which the two universities plan to develop collaboratively on include: assessment of degree projects and the quality assurance of the examination, development of master’s programmes, review of research applications, support in investigation of suspected research fraud, teacher exchanges, leadership development and commercialization.
“This cooperation will mean a tremendous amount to both parties," says Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Umeå University. “We have much to learn from Linköping University, and we also have a lot to contribute. Today, Linköping University and Umeå University are well renowned to be of high quality. Together we have received four of the seven shared national awards as "Centres of Excellence in Higher Education." By helping each other, we can accomplish great things!” continues Åsa Bergenheim.
A steering group of five representatives from each university will be responsible for coordinating the joint efforts. This will be conducted within the following six areas:
• Education • Research • Competence development of teachers • Leadership development • Administrative development
• External Relations
Linköping University and Umeå University have a long list of similarities. They were established in 1965, have about as many students and employees, comparable economic turnover, and substantially similar structure regarding educational and research directions. At the same time they have differences, for example, Umeå University offers more breadth within the sciences while Linköping University has a more extensive technical training and research. Additionally, the twp universities are organized on the basis of somewhat different principles.
Press photos are available at:
http://www8.presskontakt.umu.se/pressbilder/aktuella.html
Photo details: Curt Karlsson, University Director of Linköping University, and Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University, are pleased with the cooperation agreement signed by both institutions.
Photo by: Mattias Pettersson
Contacts:
Åsa Bergenheim, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, Umeå University Phone: +46 (0)90-786 79 49
Mobile: +46 (0)702-58 88 29
Lars Lustig, University Director, Umeå University Phone: +46 (0)90-786 97 97
Mobile: +46 (0)73-620 50 01
Curt Karlsson, University Director, Linköping University Phone: +46 (0)13-28 10 27
Mobile: +46 (0)706-78 40 25
Editor: David Meyers