Chairperson with respect for freedom

In May, Anna Ekström takes over the chairperson’s gavel on the University Board. Of her new job she says: “You need to have a genuine respect for academic freedom and an understanding of the collegial management style.”

She is hardly a stranger to what it means to be chair of a university board after almost a decade on the board of Uppsala University, with her last board meeting this April.

“Educational issues have always been part of my life,” says Ekström, who is currently director general of the Swedish National Agency for Education.

And she has wielded the chairperson’s gavel before. “I’m going to make waves” reads the headline of an article in Katrineholmskuriren from 3 June, 1985. Ekström had just become student chairperson of SACO Student Council and had already moved the modified student financing system to the top of the agenda.

“I’m looking forward with enthusiasm to this job,” she says in the article.

The same is true today. Ekström is looking forward with enthusiasm to the job of leading the University Board – though she has stopped making waves.

“That was probably more in hope than expectation,” she says laughing. “But of course I have my own ideas of what is important. I hope my experience can be of benefit to the university. If I didn’t think that, I wouldn't have taken the job. I will probably also question one or two things.”

“Learning and reflection are vital elements of a democratic society, she continues. “High standards on a purely material level can never make a society rich; culture and wisdom are also required.”

Seen like this it is surprising that higher education sometimes seems to have completely disappeared from public debate. Since 2011, Ekström has been director general of the Swedish National Agency for Education, so there is a natural comparison: “While schools are discussed in detail – from what children learn to how they conduct themselves – public interest in higher education seems to limit itself to admission figures.”

“It’s an interesting contrast,” she says, “though the development of our society is dependent on its knowledge and competence of its members. This makes my job as chair of a university extra exciting. The idea that I will be working with disseminating knowledge makes me very happy. That’s what inspires me.”

Leading a university is not like managing an everyday workplace.

“It is normal in the sense that it is a government agency that has to conform to the same laws and regulations as all the others. What is dramatically different – and which requires genuine respect and good understanding – is the collegial management style with faculties, deans and heads of department who are chosen by academics. Then there is freedom of research. You have to interact with this system.

“And,” she points out, “a university is populated by people with unusually high competence and commitment, which makes it a special workplace.”

Director–general by day; now, in between times, chairperson of the board of Linköping University.
Does not this sound like more than a full time job? The reply comes quickly: “Obviously the government doesn't think so, seeing as they gave me both jobs. But,” says Ekström, laughing again, “it is a good idea to get out of the office sometimes and see what’s going on in other workplaces.”

“The Swedish National Agency for Education is very happy that I have an understanding of the situation in the educational institutions. It gives me a good insight into the demands that are placed on the students. Today half of all children are expected to further their studies, and it is the schools that have to take responsibility for enabling them to do this.”

There are many common points of contact between the Swedish National Agency for Education and the universities. Not least being, of course, teacher training.

“We have representatives from the educational institutions on our advisory board. And we get many governmental commissions that we need to carry out in conjunction with the universities. Lärarlyftet, the continuing development scheme for teachers, is one example; training for principals is another. And we collaborate with researchers when we organise surveys like Pisa or design national tests.”

At the bottom of all this, Ekström has a law degree. Her past work includes secretary at the Swedish Labour Court, chief planner at the Prime Minister’s Office and state secretary at the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications. She followed that with ten years as chairperson of Saco. She also served as a member of the National Labour Market Board.

“These are all jobs that have given me insight into the importance of good education, including practical experience and contact with business and industry. On this point it will be particularly nice to work with Linköping University, which is known – and rightly so – for the quality of their undergraduate education.”

Good quality was also evident in the red sweater with the LiU logo that Ekström wore for many years. A thank-you gift for a lecture to students on Linköping University’s political sciences master’s programme specialising in European studies.

“An amazing coincidence. A few weeks before County Governor Elisabeth Nilsson rang and asked me if I would take over the LiU chairperson's gavel from Bengt Westerberg, I discovered that the sweater that I used to wear a lot was damaged. A piece of chocolate in the pocket...”

An omen as clear as you like. New LiU chairperson, new LiU sweater. Maybe she could put a picture on Instagram?

“Sure, I enjoy using social media. I see Twitter as pretty much a big forum. It’s a simple and open way for people to get answers to questions and a brilliant way to keep that contact we want with professional issues. But of course Twitter does not reflect the whole world.”

Social media also give her the chance to be a bit personal.

“90 % work and 10 % reflection is just about right.”

She enjoys publishing a picture taken somewhere on her way to work. Or twittering about a poem that might be good to read. Stagnelius is one of her favourite poets, as are Gullberg and Södergran.

Any unasked question that needs to be answered?

“That’s probably enough," Ekström says – but there is something about the Linköping connection that she would like people to know about. Of course she has already twittered about it. It is about the act of teaching, the core of it.

“The academy of Sciences award for the Teacher of the Year went to biology teacher Lisa Carlsson at Folkungaskolan in Linköping. Her acceptance speech was fantastic. Like a poem! Read it!”

Footnote: The University Board is responsible to the government for seeing that the duties of the university are fulfilled. The University Board and the Vice-Chancellor shall, in accordance with the Government Agencies Ordinance, ensure that the work of the university is carried out effectively and in accordance with current law and those obligations that go with Sweden’s membership of the European Union (EU).

Related links

Lisa Carlsson's acceptance speech, website of the Swedish National Agency for Education (in Swedish)

Text: Gunilla Pravitz
Photo: Stefan Borgius
25 April, 2013