Skellefteå Universities Alliance becomes an arena for the learning of the future
At the turn of the year, the Skellefteå Universities Alliance foundation (SUA) was established. With a clear focus on securing future skills needs and creating a testbed for the learning of the future, SUA will be an innovative force in meeting the growing challenges facing both business and society.
“We live in a time marked by a rapid pace of change, technological advances and sustainability challenges that place great demands on our ability to meet new skills needs and adapt quickly. In the near future, more and more people in working life will need to retrain, and we have to find new models that make this possible,” says Peter Larsson, Chair of SUA.
SUA will become a national testbed where business, society and academia can collaborate and experiment to find ways of meeting future skills needs together. The idea was born almost three years ago in connection with Skellefteå’s growing need for qualified labour. The town had a pressing need for skills in everything from teaching and healthcare to engineering.
“The question we asked ourselves was how we could quickly meet Skellefteå’s need for academic education. We initiated a dialogue with a number of universities, and since then the focus has broadened. Today we see that SUA can play an important role in promoting innovation and collaboration within academia nationally,” explains Peter.
“Skellefteå is known for daring to think unconventionally. Here you find the drive and the understanding needed to do things in new ways.”
A hub for innovation and development in academic education
In January, the work on SUA was formalised and the build-up is now gathering real momentum. A foundation has been established, core funding has been secured and the appointment of a board is well under way.
“It is a board with deep expertise and broad experience from academia, business and society alike. We need every perspective in this work,” says Peter.
The long-term ambition is for SUA to become a well-known hub for innovation and development in academic education.
“You could say that SUA will function as a start-up environment for academic innovation. Here, universities and university colleges will have the opportunity to test new ideas, share experiences and develop programmes that are both future-oriented and attractive,” says Peter.
SUA will be an arena where academia reaches out with new knowledge more quickly and where collaboration with business is at the centre. The goal is a dynamic environment that makes learning relevant, effective and accessible to more people.
“The founding of SUA is an important step in securing Skellefteå’s long-term development. By creating an arena where academia, business and society can work together, we strengthen our ability to meet the challenges of the future and meet the need for qualified skills,” says Evelina Fahlesson, Municipal Commissioner in Skellefteå.
Skellefteå’s strong capacity for adaptation and its courage to try new solutions have created a culture of innovation and forward thinking, making it a fitting place for an initiative such as SUA.
“We see it as absolutely crucial for Skellefteå’s development that we are able to meet future skills needs. SUA will be a platform for collaboration between business and other stakeholders in various forms. For us, it is an important long-term investment through which we are jointly building the strength to make the most of our region’s opportunities,” says Anders Westermark, Chair of Nornan Invest AB (formerly Norra Västerbotten Förvaltning AB).
“Skellefteå is known for daring to think unconventionally. Here you find the drive and the understanding needed to do things in new ways. That gives us a good foundation for succeeding in this work,” concludes Peter.
Board members
Skellefteå Universities Alliance
Chair Peter Larsson, former Chair of the University of Gothenburg
Robin Teigland, Professor, Chalmers University of Technology
Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Professor, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Svante Axelsson, National Coordinator, Fossil Free Sweden
Jonas Gustavsson, CEO, Afry
Anette Novak, Anette Novak AB
Joachim Nordin, CEO, Skellefteå Kraft
Petter Mikaelsson, CEO, Repay
Felicia Öberg, student at Karlstad University, Chair of the IVA Student Council
