In previous sessions, we have explored leadership from multiple perspectives: managing research groups, navigating departmental and faculty structures, and understanding decision-making at higher institutional levels. Last year, the series expanded to national and international perspectives, offering insight into the mechanisms that drive the research system.
In this upcoming series 2026, we will focus on key elements of the Swedish academic and medical research landscape, gaining a deeper understanding of:
- 21 January: The ALF system and its potential future developments – Niklas Nielsen, Vice Dean responsible for research and health care collaboration.
- 11 February: The FUN (Research Education Board) and its decision-making processes – Karin Jirström, Vice Dean responsible for PhD studies and campus development.
- 18 March: Career pathways and recruitment within academia and healthcare – Jonas Larsson, Pro Dean responsible for research, infrastructure, and recruitment and David Gisselsson-Nord, Vice Dean Responsible for international affairs and security.
In our first session on 21 January, we had the pleasure of welcoming Niklas Nielsen. He provided valuable insights into the ALF system — the national agreement between the Swedish government and seven regions supporting physician education and clinical research — and outlined its historical background. He further described how the current ALF grant structures are designed, and discussed ongoing and planned changes, including improvements and new directions that have been proposed and decided for upcoming grant cycles.
