It is an impossible task to sum up everything that has happened at a university during a year, but the international context has been a focal point for work at the management level. This year, we have worked to equip ourselves to achieve an even greater international impact in education, research and external engagement. Global engagement is a self-evident and essential part of Lund University in terms of continuing to develop as a leading international university. Extensive international engagement also brings with it great responsibility.
The growing polarisation and uncertainty in the world set considerable requirements for our global engagement to be responsible and sustainable. In the past year at Lund University, we have conducted important work in providing resources and tools to stimulate responsible and sustainable global engagement. This means we are well-equipped for the future.
In troubled times, it is also important to remember what our task is. The University is a place for research and education. It is the University’s principal task to try to understand and explain phenomena in a scientifically well-founded and knowledge-based way. I would like to extend a big thank you to the researchers and teaching staff at Lund University who make such great efforts to understand, explain and improve our world. As a university, we contribute through education and research to inspire hope for the future.
At Lund University, 2023 will above all go down in history as the year the Nobel Prize was awarded to a researcher working at our University: Anne L’Huillier. In both her words and actions, Anne L’Huillier has shared the joys of teaching and research, and her Nobel Prize will continue to inspire students, teaching staff and researchers for many years to come.
In 2024, we will carry on working to ensure that our activities continue to develop, maintain quality and are attractive far into the future. Our Platform for Strategic Work continues to give us guidance and inspiration, focusing on our four prioritised areas: Strong research today and for the future, Education in transition, A creative learning and work environment and Democracy and global engagement.* I look forward to an exciting 2024 in which together we will continue to keep Lund University relevant, attractive and in demand.
Take care of yourselves and each other, and let’s meet again in the new year with renewed energy.
And with that, I would like to wish you all a very enjoyable festive season!
/Erik
