The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

First meeting about the profile areas raised many questions

Picture of the meeting the 12 November with Per Mickwtz and Erik Renström.

The University management’s view of the government’s proposed model for the profile areas is that it has both advantages and disadvantages. However, it is important to be prepared and to use this opportunity to reinforce the University’s research regardless.

The first information meeting about the profile areas at Lund University was held on 12 November. It was well-attended and many questions came in, which is promising. The meeting was intended as a first introduction to our work to identify the University’s profile areas.

The advantages are that profiling could increase the quality and impact of research to a certain extent and could potentially make it easier for strong research areas to recruit leading researchers. It could also generate synergies and promote new ideas, as well as clarifying where we have strong research. The disadvantage is that control over the allocation of research resources shifts from the University more towards the government.

However, Lund University usually does well in applications for research grants. We have good experience regarding the creation of strong research environments and obtaining research funding amid stiff competition.
I hope that many will take this opportunity to find new collaborations and relevant research initiatives. We need good individual quality in each single profile area, combined with collective holistic thinking. To support the process, we will start thematic discussion forums for promising themes.

During the meeting, several questions arose regarding things that we don’t yet know and about which it is hard to make any statements at this time. This is a process which will gradually take shape and I hope to see broad participation from the organisation.

I have decided on management rules to provide guidelines for planning. These rules and a video recording of the meeting, along with other relevant information, can be found on the new blog about the profile areas.

More opportunities will be offered to ask questions, the next one being on 3 December when we will follow up and discuss the registrations of interest.

/Per Mickwitz

See more


This text is published in LU News no 7