A project focusing on the reorganisation of university-wide communication activities has proceeded during the autumn. Communications Director Johanna Sandahl has been tasked with drawing up a proposal that is to be finalised before the end of the year. The new remit and organisation are due to be approved by University Director Susanne Kristensson in January. The work on drawing up the proposal has been conducted in dialogue with the University Management and faculties in order to meet the management’s and organisational units’ needs and expectations regarding communications work.
“Due to the University’s economic situation and savings within the Central Administration, there is an expectation that Corporate Communication in its new form will meet new needs and increased ambitions within its existing budget, without additional expense for the University. This leads to a reprioritisation of the division’s current activities. The University Management has identified LUM as a part of existing activities where reprioritisation should be applied in favour of other activities,” says Johanna Sandahl.
“LUM is a channel that has relatively substantial and specifically allocated resources. When the University has to make tough prioritisations, it is not possible to have such sizeable resources for one channel. In this context, it is important for me to emphasise that LUM maintains a high standard of quality and that the work performed by the entire editorial team is excellent. There is no dissatisfaction with LUM behind the reprioritisation,” says Jimmie Kristensson, pro vice-chancellor of Lund University.
If the decision is made, LUM’s February edition will be the last.
Some of the aspects that Corporate Communication will work on in future according to the proposal, are:
- Systematic internal communication focusing on information that the organisation needs in order to function and which to a greater extent is aimed at the right group. Currently, internal information is often fragmented and difficult to find.
- Support for digital communication systems. There is considerable demand for effective digital base infrastructure for communication, such as web platforms and newsletters.
- Enhancement of planned and coordinated communication and follow up of communication initiatives in order to work in an even more resource-efficient way.
- Support for the faculties in work relating to the international press.
Background
In June, the university director decided to task the communications director with drawing up a proposal for a new remit for Corporate Communication and a new organisation for university-wide communication activities. The proposal is to be presented no later than 31 December to the university director, who will make a decision in early 2025.
The development work is being carried out because it is currently difficult to take an overall approach to communication matters and offer a coordinated communication service to the organisation. Today’s organisational structure is conducive to the sender perspective and channel focus instead of to the recipient perspective. Rapid technical development and digitalisation are driving the need for change and adaptation, as are changing demands and expectations both from the wider world and within our own organisation. The aim is to support the University’s core activities within education and research, and their utilisation.