As the new chair of the Faculty Senate, Eva Olsson aims to further strengthen the university's academic environment to make it even more attractive for future generations.
"We must manage dynamically while paving the way for Chalmers' future."
Chalmers is in the midst of a 20-year strategy to further develop the university's role in education, research, and interaction with industry and society, as well as being a key partner on the international stage. A good academic environment is a prerequisite for Chalmers to succeed in its ambition. It is the Faculty Senate’s task to safeguard this environment and actively work on strategically important issues.
"I am passionate about leading the Faculty Senate’s work and advising Chalmers' President as we focus on Chalmers' future and key roles in shaping the living conditions of future generations."
"Ultimately, it is about working to ensure that future generations will have a good life."
Eva Olsson is a professor of experimental physics, a highly profiled researcher, and a well-known face to most at Chalmers. She succeeds Susanne Aalto as the chair of the Faculty Senate after the latter was appointed one of Chalmers' two Deputy Presidents last winter.
The Faculty Senate is an advisory body to the President, consisting of elected representatives from all Chalmers departments. The Senate's role is to protect the academic environment at the university and to follow up and critically review the quality of the university's operations from this perspective.
"It is important that we, as a Senate, ensure academic freedom while promoting collaboration with industry and other institutes. Chalmers is very successful in this regard, and this interaction is crucial both for research and for students' future careers in the industry."
"In the long run, research should be used in industry and society, so this interplay is important – but we must not compromise on the academic environment. One should not dominate the other," says Eva Olsson.
“Understanding the Reality We Operate In”
She sees Chalmers' new and long-term vision as an important goal and is now working to make the Faculty Senate even better at advising the President so that Chalmers can take the next step.
"We on the Senate must educate ourselves about what Chalmers is working on today, its organisation and structure, and the demands and conditions we face, in order to understand the reality we operate in."
Therefore, Eva Olsson and her colleagues on the Senate plan to invite individuals from various parts of Chalmers to hear their thoughts and needs for the future. Politicians and ministries may also be approached to create channels for presenting ideas.
To realise its long-term strategy, Eva Olsson sees the university's infrastructure as crucial. Both to recruit the best possible staff – and to retain those already here.
"The infrastructure is important for those of us who are already here, but also those who are recruited should find Chalmers an interesting environment. Therefore, we need insight into the infrastructure and the collaborations we have."
She also sees the operational support as a very significant factor for the core activities and wants to focus on the university's educational aspect.
Manage and Develop
While much work is focused on the future, Eva Olsson believes it is important not to lose what Chalmers and the Faculty Senate already do well. She summarises it as managing dynamically.
"We have top-quality education with good applicants and work on recruitment at all levels – from students to research assistants. Recruitment is extremely important to work on, and the academic environment is the foundation of everything. We must manage and develop, both parts must be included."
As a professor and researcher, Eva Olsson has also built up a large network worldwide and international issues are close to her heart – which will be an important asset for the Faculty Senate's work, in line with the vision to become a world-class technical university.
"We have built something exceptional at Chalmers that we should maintain and further develop. We are shaping future generations, and that work is incredibly important. The next step is to benchmark ourselves against others and create a lively mutual exchange where we also create good conditions for the future."
Facts/The Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate is a collegiate advisory body to the President, established by Chalmers' Senate, consisting of elected representatives from all Chalmers departments. The Senate's role is to protect the academic environment at Chalmers, including initiating and discussing long-term strategic issues of importance for the development of Chalmers’ various core activities, and to follow up and critically review the quality of operations from an academic perspective.
The Senate Chair is elected for a three-year term with the possibility of re-election. The current term is until 30 June 2026.