Key Points

• Very decentralised management structure. There has been a major re‐organisation of the central administration which has reduced 14 previous divisions to 6, one of which combines research, innovation and external relations. But essentially the role of the centre is facilitating, brokering, or otherwise supporting faculty‐based activity.
• New VC is strong on regional engagement, and is already giving it higher priority. But there was no‐one with specific responsibility for relations with the City of Lund or Skane Region. (This will change as a result of my raising the issue during the visit!)
• Well developed innovation process especially in science and technology, but also increasingly involving social science and humanities. An extensive – even crowded – set of bodies to move ideas out to business development.
• Impressive incubation and business support arrangements to encourage entrepreneurship amongst students.
• Variety of outreach activities to widen access to students from disadvantaged areas/backgrounds. Strong investment in monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives leading to targeting of future efforts. Also, serious attempts to research student satisfaction among different student groups.
• All CPD is contracted through a specially created company for commissioned education, but it is mostly delivered through and by faculties. After a rather uncertain start this activity is now growing rapidly with a target of producing 10% of university income.
• Not addressing cultural and heritage issues in any systematic way. Indeed Lund had just lost out in a EU City of Culture bid, one factor being this lack of development. The University has some interesting museums, but some at least are not open to the public.
• On addressing the skills agenda locally, for the main campus at Lund services are still being developed, although there are some interesting initiatives. Recruitment fairs are run by students in each faculties, with some guidance from the centre. The campus at Helsingborg has developed closer links with local business over the identification of skills needs, and practice there may be adopted in Lund itself.
• Lots of events (lectures, seminars etc which are open to the public, but very little attempt to market them, and little idea of who attends. Also a fascinating an annual learning festival in the community, organised by the students but with participation by a range of academic departments.
• Beginning to develop stronger alumni services, but still at a relatively early stage.
• Strong engagement at European level – managing several EU programmes, and has attracted huge EU science investment in new projects.
• A participant in the Oresund University, but rather an uncertain relationship with it and with the other HEIs within it.

John Tibbitt
28 September 2009