Elections at KI - everything you need to know
Academic elections are important for ensuring collegial influence at all levels of the organisation.
Why we hold academic elections
The management of higher education institutions and universities is regulated by the Higher Education Act and the Higher Education Ordinance. In accordance with these provisions, higher education institutions shall be governed by a university board and a president. In other respects, higher education institutions are to shape their internal organisation in the way that best suits the university's activities.
The Higher Education Act also states that decisions that involve assessing the organisation and implementation or quality of education and research shall be made by persons with research or artistic competence.
Students and employees at KI may nominate individuals to open positions on the faculty board and its committees, the faculty council, and as dean of the departmental groups. It is also possible to nominate teacher representatives in the university board, KI’s highest decision-making body.
How to vote
During elections that do not take place exclusively within the nominating assembly, those on KI’s list of voters submit their vote through a digital election tool. Eligible employees receive an e-mail for each election in which it is possible to vote. Persons are eligible to vote if they are employed at least 50% by KI as a teacher or researcher.
Description of elections
Recruitment process for the position of dean
The president appoints a dean for a period of four years, which shall coincide with the term of office of the faculty board. According to KI’s organisational plan, the dean is a member of the faculty board.
The president leads the recruitment process, which begins with advertising the position. Employees and students at KI are also invited to nominate candidates for the position. The heads of each respective departmental group are especially encouraged to submit proposals for the position of dean.
After the president has reviewed the received applications, proposals and nominations, the matter is prepared and deliberations are then held between the president and heads of each respective departmental group regarding the most suitable person for the position.
After consulting with the heads of the departmental group, the president can decide to hold an advisory election or hearing. Once the process is complete, the president makes a decision. Equality aspects are included in the process.
Qualification requirements for appointment as dean
To be qualified for the position of dean, a person must have the preconditions to fulfill their duties well, have professorial qualifications and be permanently employed or employed for the office term in question. They must also have adequate management experience for the task. A dean may not simultaneously be appointed as head of department.
Advisory elections of academic vice president and deputy chair of the faculty board’s committees
The election is held as a direct election and is advisory. Academic vice president and deputy chairs are appointed by the president. The nominating assembly presents two proposals for holders of each position. When the president has appointed the academic vice president of a committee, the candidate of the opposite sex who has received the most votes is appointed as deputy chair. If special circumstances exist, the president may depart from this order.
Election of faculty representatives to the university board
The election is held as a direct election. The nomination assembly proposes the number of candidates that the election concerns pursuant to the organisational plan. If special circumstances exist, the nominating assembly may propose additional candidates.
Election of members to the faculty council
Elections are conducted within the nominating assembly in the manner determined by the nominating assembly. The nominating assembly appoints the number of permanently employed professors and other teachers that the organisational plan dictates.
Election of teacher representatives to the faculty board and its committees
The election is conducted by the nominating assembly in the manner determined by the nominating assembly. The nominating assembly elects the number of teacher representatives that the organisational plan dictates should be elected to the faculty board and each respective committee.
Term of office
KI’s new management organisation entered into force on 1 January 2019. The terms of office in the new organisation have been increased to four years, i.e., between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022.
Election process: Nominating assembly and election committee
The election process began by the departments appointing 81 members plus deputies to the nominating assembly. When the nominating assembly convened for the first time, a chair, deputy chair and election committee were appointed.
Composition of the nominating assembly
Marie Arsenian-Henriksson, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, was appointed as chair, and Michael Fored, Department of Medicine, Solna, was elected as deputy chair of the nominating assembly (December 1, 2019).
The election committee
The election committee consists of Sophie Erhardt (chair), Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; Gunnar Nilsson (vice chair), Department of Medicine, Solna; Rune Brautaset, Department of Clinical Neuroscience; Ulf Eriksson, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics; Petter Höglund, Department of Medicine, Huddinge; Maria Eriksson, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition; and Catharina Larsson, Department of Oncology and Pathology.
The elections are conducted as follows
Binding direct elections of teacher representatives to KI's university board are held among eligible voters, i.e., those on KI’s list of voters. The electoral process is digital and designed to maintain ballot secrecy. It is possible to vote for candidates proposed by the nominating assembly as well as candidates that you propose yourself.
Advisory direct elections are carried out for academic vice president and deputy chair of the faculty board’s committees. The president makes the final decision.
Binding elections in the nominating assembly are carried out for the faculty council as well as teacher representatives to the faculty board and its committees.