Evaluation of the University’s collaboration with the surrounding society
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On 30 October 2024, the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) reported back to Uppsala University on the thematic evaluation carried out at national level regarding collaboration with the surrounding society at the country’s higher education institutions (HEIs).
Johan Kreuger
The purpose of UKÄ’s thematic evaluation was to provide a better understanding in the area and to create a picture of the HEIs’ strategic work towards good conditions for collaboration with the surrounding society nationwide. The HEIs each receive a number of recommendations: what the HEI should and could develop.
“Uppsala University received many positive reviews in its thematic evaluation. The University also received three should recommendations and four could recommendations,” says Johan Kreuger, head of the Division for Research and Partnership Support.
The recommendations mainly concern how the University creates the conditions for collaboration, mutual exchange with external partners, and feedback from follow-ups of collaboration efforts to various collaboration partners.
“We work continuously to develop and improve collaboration with the surrounding society and much of that work is in fact in line with UKÄ’s recommendations. We will now progress this work and embed it throughout the organisation,” says Johan Kreuger.
Work to address the should recommendations must be reported to UKÄ by 2 November 2026. UKÄ will then follow up on how the HEIs have dealt with each should recommendation.
Good opportunities for long-term and sustainable collaboration
Among other things, UKÄ emphasised that Uppsala University creates good opportunities for long-term and sustainable collaboration and considers that the University also has clear goals regarding what it wants to achieve through collaboration with the surrounding society.
“Sustainability is central in the University’s future-oriented development work. The Vice-Chancellor’s initiative Uppsala University Future Institutes (UUniFI) is an example that is in line with the University’s desire to become even better at tackling society’s big challenges, which require that we collaborate with a long list of actors,” says Johan Kreuger.
The University monitors collaboration in education and research, and alumni surveys are often conducted prior to programme reviews. UKÄ noted in particular that the University has made adjustments based on the results of the programme reviews – an example of responsive quality enhancement work and a connection between the results of follow-ups and the development of its education environments, according to the assessment panel.
“Many programmes are working to make better use of their alumni’s experiences in the programme, so as to equip students with knowledge about how the world of work operates in their area. Working more closely with alumni is a common measure after programme reviews have been carried out, according to the University’s quality enhancement reports. The alumni team at the Development Office within the University Administration provide concrete support and tips,” says Maria Wolters, project manager at the University Administration.
Johan Ahlenius
More information
UKÄ has compiled a nationwide picture, with recommendations for the higher education sector as a whole. The report Samverkan med det omgivande samhället – en forskningspolitisk översikt (Collaboration with the surrounding society – a research policy overview) frames the national situation in an international perspective.
UKÄ has also produced two in-depth reports concerning collaboration with the public (Samverkan med allmänheten) and the value of collaboration as a means of acquiring further qualifications (Meritvärdet av samverkan).
UKÄ recommendations for Uppsala University
Uppsala University’s should recommendations:
- In its strategic work, the University should take into account differences between subject areas when it comes to creating the conditions for collaboration.
- In light of the variety of its subject areas, the University should develop ways of ensuring that a mutual exchange can occur by involving external partners.
- The University should provide feedback from the results of follow-ups of collaboration to external stakeholders and partners.
Uppsala University’s could recommendations:
- In its work to develop goals and strategies for collaboration, the University could take into account the balance between the large number of prioritised areas and individual employees’ collaboration initiatives.
- In its strategic work, the University could design sector-specific goals for collaboration.
- The University could continue its work to further strengthen incentives for collaboration with regard to the acquisition of qualifications.
- The University could develop indicators in order to capture the quality of the collaboration that is pursued within research and education, respectively.