Annika Östman Wernerson: We are now strengthening our collegial leadership

Collegial influence is one of the cornerstones of our academic culture. The new structure (in Swedish) is designed to give the faculty a clearer mandate to engage with, influence and take responsibility for the university’s ongoing development. This is a step towards a more inclusive, more transparent leadership that allows more voices to make themselves heard.

Staff and students will soon be able to nominate appropriately qualified people to KI’s management bodies. Your proposals are very important – the identification of those who have the skills to run and develop our education and research activities and shape KI’s future is a collective endeavour. I would like to urge all of you to – and hope that you will want to – contribute to this extremely valuable process.

Financial boost in the government’s budget bill

The government’s proposed budget for 2026 will bring in an additional SEK 70 million or so to research and education at KI, bringing our total appropriation to SEK 3.58 billion kronor.

This will make it possible for us to reinforce the campus groups’ common priorities and deal with our high level of administrative capital through the adoption of our new resource allocation model. I have decided that SEK 90 million from the research grant and SEK 45 million from interest earned is to be diverted to the campus groups; it will be up to the deans to distribute this income in dialogue with their group’s heads of department.

All funds shall be utilised in 2026 to:

• compensate for any costs incurred in adapting to the new resource allocation model
• maintain high educational standards
• make strategic investments and prioritisations

The University Board has also decided to ringfence SEK 35 million for the President’s strategic initiative budget, which can be used to fund the implementation of decisions linked to KI’s priority focus areas when and where it is necessary to do so.

This is an important step in ensuring that the resources are used and prioritised at an operational level and that the funds are spent on education and research instead of being left in a bank to accumulate.

The KI Culture Day – science meets art

On 6 November it is time once more for the KI Culture Day, our annual tribute to the synergies between medical science and culture. This year’s event is based on an Art-Brain theme, and comprises art exhibitions, lectures and live performances. It is the perfect opportunity to join colleagues, students and guests in the appreciation of how culture can enrich our community and inspire new perspectives. Please take part if you can! 

We are, as I said, in the middle of the autumn term, and you can tell: important decisions are being taken, new structures are evolving and an opportunity to gather around science and culture is presenting itself. Together, step, by step, we are all pushing KI along the path of growth. Thank you all for your dedication!