NEWS After a proposal from the University Board, the Swedish Government has today appointed Professor Tora Holmberg as new Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University for the six-year period 2025–2031. “I’m incredibly proud to have been entrusted this assignment, and I’m looking forward to settling in Umeå and getting to know my new university,” says Tora Holmberg.
Tora Holmberg will become Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University on 1 April, taking over from Hans Adolfsson, who is now Vice-Chancellor of Stockholm University.
ImageMalin GrönborgTora Holmberg takes office as new Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University on 1 April. She has been active at Uppsala University, not least as professor of sociology, but also as deputy vice-chancellor of humanities and social sciences in 2020–2025.
“What I bring with me, of course, is a conviction of the value of a comprehensive university and the knowledge of how it works and can be governed. In addition, I have experience of dealing with several strategic research and education issues at Uppsala University during my almost five years as deputy vice-chancellor.”
“I also aim to be a voice for academic freedom, collegiality and the important role of universities in a democratic community. I’m pleased that my commitment in these areas was valued in the recruitment process and emphasised in the University Board's comments to the decision on new vice-chancellor.”
“In my leadership, I strive to ensure that everyone is involved and takes responsibility, and that together we harness the power of staff and students’ knowledge and commitment. I felt early on that it was very rewarding and fun to see others develop and take steps forward, both colleagues, students and doctoral students. Over time, I’ve also realised that I have an ability to bring people together to achieve common goals.”
Umeå University is highly regarded and plays an important role in the development of the city, the region and Sweden as a whole. This is something I want us to nurture and develop together.
Since its inauguration in 1965, Umeå University has played a crucial role in the talent acquisition and social development throughout northern Sweden. The University's rapid and constant expansion has also gone hand in hand with Umeå’s growth and development, and this is of course something Tora Holmberg also wants to develop on.
“Umeå University is highly regarded and plays an important role in the development of the city, the region and Sweden as a whole. This is something I want us to nurture and develop together. At the same time, we are and have the ambition to continue to be a university with international competitiveness. Important issues going forward are to strengthen educational collaboration and increase the University’s competitiveness for research grants from the EU. That’s why I’m also looking forward to getting involved in the European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) alliance, which consists of nine universities, and which Umeå University is now joining.”
The place also harbours a strong symbolism. All disciplines can meet there and form a greater whole – a university!
Umeå University's unified campus creates creative environments for education and research, invites collaboration across disciplines and creates opportunities for an active student life, which is something Tora Holmberg has already experienced during her visits to the University.
“It really feels like everything revolves around the Campus Pond. Although we have important activities at the Umeå Arts Campus on the riverside, Campus NUS in the hospital area, and other locations in northern Sweden, I think the feeling around the pond captures the heart and soul of this comprehensive university. The place also harbours a strong symbolism. All disciplines can meet there and form a greater whole – a university!”