Process initiated for reappointment of current Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor

As the term of office of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anders Hagfeldt, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Coco Norén, expires on 31 December 2026, preparations for appointing a Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the next term of office were started in spring 2025.

Both Hagfeldt and Norén have announced that they are available for a further three-year term.

Enjoy strong support

In April 2025, the University Board decided to explore the possibility of adopting a simplified process for reappointing the current Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. They also selected the chair and one member of a recruitment committee. In May, the Electoral College then nominated six additional members to the recruitment committee.

The University Board asked the recruitment committee to review the way in which the current Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor have performed their duties and assess the possibility of considering reappointment via a simplified process.

In the assessment submitted to the University Board, the recruitment committee notes that both the Vice-Chancellor and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor have strong support in the organisation and they propose that the University Board should initiate a simplified process with a view to appointing both incumbents for a new term of office.

At its meeting on 25 September 2025, the University Board decided to initiate a simplified process in accordance with the recruitment committee’s proposal for the reappointment of Vice-Chancellor Anders Hagfeldt and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Coco Norén.

Next steps

In the next step in the process, the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor will be invited to a hearing by the Electoral College on 7 October 2025. The Electoral College will then vote on 13 October 2025.

After its vote, the Electoral College will deliver its proposal to the recruitment committee. The recruitment committee in turn will deliver a proposal to the University Board for decision.

The decision is scheduled for the University Board’s meeting on 6 November 2025. As the Vice-Chancellor is appointed by the government, the University Board will decide whether to propose to the government that the Vice-Chancellor be reappointed or whether to launch a recruitment process in open competition. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, on the other hand, is appointed by the University Board, which may decide to reappoint the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or to initiate an open competition recruitment process.

Anders Berndt