First insight.

University Structure

“Lucky the nation that has plenty of good schools, good books, good rules and customs for upbringing its youth”

Comenius (Czech Humanist and Teacher of the XVII century)

First insight.

1. Look at the photos of Linköping University (LiU). Comment on different spheres and aspects of its life.

2. Read the text and find the unique figures and facts about the Linköping University that make it outstanding.

Linköping University (LiU)

Motto: “Expanding Reality”

Profile. Cooperation across subject and faculty borders and an entrepreneurial spirit of education is the hallmark of Linköping University (LiU). Since its foundation in the 1970’s, the university has established itself as an innovative and modern institution in both education and research.

During the past decade LiU has experienced rapid growth. With 25,000 undergraduate students, 1,300 research students and 3,500 employees, Linköping University is Sweden’s fifth largest university. There are 60 study programmes and about 500 single-subject courses offered in Linköping¹ and Norrköping². LiU offers education at basic (Bachelor’s), advanced (Master’s) levels and PhD level.

The academic year consists of two semesters. The autumn semester usually runs from the middle or end of August to mid-January and the spring semester from mid-January to the beginning or middle of June. There is usually a vacation of one or two weeks at Christmas.

Organisation. Linköping University (LiU) has a unique organisation, one which lacks counterparts elsewhere in Sweden and differs from the traditional academic organisation which has served as a model for most European universities. Instead of being divided into separate faculties of humanities, social sciences, philosophy etc, Linköping University encompasses four faculties: Institute of Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the latter spanning over such diverse disciplines as social anthropology, history of literature, political science, and political economy.The university is organized in 14 departments.

Departments. From the very start an organisational structure was established with departments combining the knowledge bases of several adjacent academic disciplines and often belonging under more than one faculty. The department of Biomedical Engineering is an early example. This structure has fostered a development towards interdisciplinary graduate schools, involving several disciplines and departments.

Management. The rector is the university’s top executive official, appointed by the government. The rector’s term of office is six years. The appointment of the rector is preceded by an extensive nomination procedure within the university, after which the University Board proposes a candidate.

The University Board is the highest decision-making body within the university, with an overall responsibility for budget and policies. The board consists of 13 members, including representatives of teachers, students and public interests, the latter members constituting the majority.

Other committees and boards within the university consist of representatives of teachers, students, university staff, and - except at the departmental level - professional interests. A faculty board deals with each main area.

A pro-rector for academic affairs and two vice rectors (Swedish: vicerektor), appointed by the University Board report to the rector. The vice rectors are responsible for specific areas of key importance to the university. At present, there are two vice rectors, who are responsible for:

· Equal opportunities

· International relations

The rector is also assisted by an advisory committee, which includes the faculty deans, the pro-rector, the registrar and one student.

Faculties. The four faculties are in charge of education and research within their respective area. Each faculty is run by a faculty board, the chairman of which is the dean, who is elected by the teachers of each faculty. Within each faculty there are special educational and research committees which are made up of representatives of various groups.

The faculty administration supports the committees in dealing with budget, information, international affairs etc.

Having earlier been part of a centralized national system of higher education, Swedish universities and colleges today enjoy considerable autonomy in the planning and dimensioning of education.

An international setting. More than 1 500 foreign students attend classes at the university each year. Besides the growing number of international students, over 100 guest researchers a year take advantage of the stimulating research environment at LiU. An increasing number of courses and master’s programmes are offered in English throughout all faculties.

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¹ Linköping - \ˈlin-ˌshə(r)-piŋ, -ˌshœ-\ city (1990 pop. 82,450), capital of Östergötland co., S Sweden, near Lake Roxen. It is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center. Manufactures include motor vehicles, railroad cars, airplanes, electrical appliances, and processed food. An episcopal see since 1120, Linköping flourished in the Middle Ages as an intellectual and religious center. Linköping has a splendid Romanesque cathedral (12th cent.; rebuilt 1230s), which has a 344-ft (105-m) spire. The city also has a 13th-century castle (restored 1931–32), a large library, and a university.

²Norrköping - \ˈnȯr-ˌshœ-piŋ\ city (1990 pop. 82,640), Östergötland co., SE Sweden, a seaport at the head of the Bråviken, a narrow inlet of the Baltic Sea. It is a commercial, industrial, and transportation center. A major engineering and textile center, it also has industries producing paper, rubber, furniture, electrical goods, and processed food. Norrköping was founded in the 14th cent. and was burned (1719) by the Russians in the Northern War. However, it has retained many old buildings, including Hedvig's Church (17th cent.).

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