President's decision: KI begins work on a new strategy
What role should KI play in the world, and what priorities and choices does this entail? This is the starting point following the decision by the President of Karolinska Institutet to begin work on a new university-wide strategy to replace the current Strategy 2030. The project will be led by Senior Adviser Maja Fjaestad, and the aim is for a new strategy to be agreed and adopted by the Board of Karolinska Institutet by 31 December 2027 at the latest.
– KI aims to be an active player in society. As a medical university, we have a particular responsibility to contribute research, education and knowledge that meet society’s needs. The strategy process provides an opportunity to discuss the role KI should play in the future and how we can best harness the university’s collective strengths, says Annika Östman Wernerson, President of KI.
KI’s current Strategy 2030 has guided the university’s development since 2019. At the same time, the world around us has changed significantly. These developments place new demands on the university’s role, collaboration, security, preparedness and ability to contribute knowledge to society.
Strengthening the role as a societal actor
The aim of this work is to develop a coherent, long-term strategy that provides direction for education, research, collaboration and professional services, whilst strengthening KI’s role as a societal actor and a source of knowledge.
– I have previously worked in organisations where the external environment has changed rapidly and where many different perspectives have needed to be weighed up. My role will be to lead this work forward and help ensure we have a solid basis for the choices and priorities that need to be made for KI’s continued development. Feedback from staff and students will be an important part of the process,” says Maja Fjaestad, senior adviser to the President at KI.
As part of this work, a strategy group will be set up comprising representatives from departments, the Faculty Board, committees, central administrative support, students and junior faculty. The group will act as an advisory forum throughout the process and contribute experiences and perspectives from different parts of KI.
The members of the strategy group will be announced on the website dedicated to the strategy work, which will be launched shortly. The website will also provide regular updates on the work, its structure and opportunities for participation.
The working group consists of the project manager, a coordinator and a communications strategist from Joint Operational Support. Professor Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren is acting as a senior adviser. He has extensive experience of academic leadership at KI and led the review of the university’s councils and committees.
Facts about the strategy process
- Project start: autumn 2026
- Project manager: Maja Fjaestad
- Commissioning body: President
- Strategy group comprising representatives from departments, the Faculty Board, Committees, Professional Services, students and Junior Faculty
- Objective: a decision on a new strategy by 31 December 2027 at the latest