Umea University was founded in 1965 and is Sweden's fifth oldest University. Today, we have a strong international presence with students, teachers, and researchers from all over the world. As one of the nation's leading comprehensive universities, we are alive with enthusiasm, innovation, creativity, and fresh ideas.
We have developed interaction between research, education, collaboration, and innovation that challenges boundaries and plays a crucial role in the region's development. The University is a vibrant meeting place where interdisciplinary knowledge is generated and disseminated. Creative environments attract students, researchers, teachers, and collaborating partners nationally and globally. The University Board is the University's highest body. The decisions they make include allocating resources within the University, setting essential matters concerning the University's organization, and lodging annual reports and budget documents to the Government. The Board also sets admission regulations for undergraduate and graduate education and appointment procedures.
During 1965 there were only about 2,000 students. Today the total of students - including those at the postgraduate level - is approximately 31,000. Many of these students are taking courses via distance education or online learning. Additionally, there are 2,032 teachers and researchers employed by the University.
The point of departure for the vision document is that in the year 2020, Umeå University will have a strong international position as one of Sweden's leading universities and that the University will have developed interaction between research, education, collaboration, and innovation that challenges boundaries and plays a crucial role in the region's development. The University gives its students and staff unique opportunities for professional and personal development while simultaneously providing society with new knowledge and creative people, both locally and globally. The objectives in the vision document are formulated under three main headings.
Our overall objectives have the main headings:
- A long term approach facilitates a high level of risk-taking.
- Creative environments stimulate dynamic meetings.
- Collaboration creates development and improves quality.
Our objectives have the main headings:
- An attractive educational offering at all levels.
- Skilled teaching staff.
- Encounters with research and the outside world.
- A strong international dimension.
The highest branch at Umeå University is the University Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of the Board to decide on, among other things, the distribution of resources within the University. The Board is made up of eight members who are appointed by the Swedish Government. The Board represents both community and business interests. Therefore, it is possible to have a Chairperson that is not a member of the University body. The Board is also made up of the Vice-Chancellor, three members of the Board who represent teachers, and three members of the Board for the student body.
Every faculty at Umeå University is headed by a Dean, who is also the chairperson for their faculty'srespective Faculty Board faculty. The Faculty Board is responsible for scientific research, postgraduate education, and undergraduate education within the faculty. The Board's members are elected to their posts, except for the student members. The basic unit of the University is the department. Departments carry out education as well as research within one or several related issues. The department is the primary workplace, not just for students, teachers, and researchers, but also for other professionals such as secretaries, janitors, technicians, and instrument makers. The department usually is lead by a departmental board where at least two students are members. The head of every department has the title - Head of Department (in Swedish: Perfekt).
Umeå University is not an academic island. We seek to share our knowledge and research findings. External contacts are of extreme importance, as is an on-going dialogue with the general public, the public sector, and industry. We have established unique resources to build bridges of understanding and mutual enlightenment between education/research and society/industry. Among these unique resources are organizations such as the Office for External Relations, Uminova Innovation, and Uminova Invest.
The International Office cooperates with faculties and departments at Umeå University to facilitate students, teachers, and administrative staff to participate in mobility schemes that aim to provide an international dimension to their study or work experience. Together, we also work to provide an adequate level of service to international students at our University. The International Office manages and coordinates the University's participation in the Nordic Centres in India and the Erasmus, Nordplus, and Linnaeus-Palme program. Umeå University cooperates with more than 600 international universities throughout the world.
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