Gender equality issues begin with our expectations

It starts early. We speak differently to girls and boys, give them different amounts of latitude and judge their performance differently. This shapes our expectations both of others and of ourselves, leading to differences in areas such as salary and career progression.

Nanna Gillberg conducts research on gender issues, with a particular focus on the informal mechanisms behind inequality, including what she calls expectation structures.

“Pay differences between men and women can partially be explained by expectation structures. If you are a manager going into a pay review, it is more difficult to say no to someone who you assume has high expectations in terms of salary than someone who only has modest hopes. There was a study conducted in the Swedish banking world, where new employees were interviewed. The men had high expectations of rising up the career ladder, while the women only expressed hopes. The expectations of employees, and expectations of their expectations from managers, affect the pace of career progression,” says Nanna Gillberg.

“I have never noticed gender making any difference” Last year, Nanna Gillberg published her book “Jag har aldrig märkt att kön har haft någon betydelse” (I have never noticed gender making any difference). The title comes from a frequent comment among high achievers in business. In the book, Nanna gives examples of underlying structures that are so obvious they have been rendered invisible.

“Many people perceive their lives to be equal, and some feel the whole issue is irrelevant. But research shows that we often find it difficult to spot structures associated with gender because they are so ‘taken for granted’. In an American study, the two fictitious characters Jennifer and John both applied for a job as a laboratory manager. Apart from the names, the applications looked exactly the same. Nevertheless, 127 venerable professors judged that John was more competent and deserved both a higher salary and more mentoring than Jennifer,” relates Nanna Gillberg.

186 years away from gender equality Although we have made a great deal of progress on gender equality, there is still a long way to go. There are calculations indicating that at the current rate, it will take 186 years for us to reach full gender equality in Sweden.

“The most rapid advances are being made where there is a regulatory framework covering areas such as board representation or wage negotiations. If you look at things like the distribution of unpaid work in the home or who takes leave to care for a sick child, then progress is considerably slower,” says Nanna Gillberg.

We also can’t rely on young people to lead the way. A study conducted in the USA, and repeated in Norway, got students to read a report on a successful entrepreneur. The narrative was the same, but in one half of the cases it was about ‘Heidi’ and in the other half it was about ‘Howard’.

“While Heidi was seen as unsympathetic and selfish – not someone you would want to employ, have as a manager or grab a beer with after work – Howard was considered to be a great guy. And this wasn’t older people, but a new generation of business school students. So everyone has to keep reminding themselves about underlying expectations. Including me,” says Nanna Gillberg.

Food and drink play a big part in the travel experience, and sometimes may even be the main reason for choosing a particular destination. The average tourist spends a substantial 30 per cent of their budget on meals, and the growing group of ‘foodies’ spend much more than that.

CULINARY TOURISM FOOD TAKES CENTRE STAGE

Lena Mossberg is a professor of marketing, and probably the person in Sweden who has worked most on the subject of culinary tourism. Over the past 20 years, her research has focused on what she calls extraordinary experiences, often centred around food, and the subject is becoming increasingly topical.

“Food plays a huge role in the tourism industry, because it’s so intimately connected to the country’s food culture and traditions. There is considerable interest, for example, in developing tourism destinations with the help of food. I attended a UN conference on culinary tourism back in May. It was the fifth one so far and we had as many as a thousand participants from all sorts of different countries,” says Lena Mossberg.

Interdisciplinary centre for tourism research Tourism research has a long tradition at the School of Business, Economics and Law. A formal network to address the subject was formed back in the 1990s, and 2007 saw the foundation of the Centre for Tourism. Lena Mossberg was one of the driving forces behind this development. “We’re an interdisciplinary platform for tourism research, bringing together researchers from four different faculties. West Sweden Tourist Board and Göteborg & Co were involved in setting up the centre and remain active participants in its work and on its board. Our research and education covers a broad spectrum of tourism and hospitality issues, but many of us have a particular focus on consumer behaviour. We also have a constellation that is specifically interested in culinary tourism,” explains Lena Mossberg.

Scary seafood as part of the West Coast’s image In a new project going by the working name of Scary Seafood, Lena Mossberg and her colleagues are working on broadening the view of what we are willing to eat from the vast larder of the ocean.

“What we eat is a very cultural thing. In France, for example, sea urchins are a delicacy. And in Asia people eat sea cucumbers, jellyfish, sea snails and many other foods that we are nervous about trying here. Seafood is an important part of our brand here on the West Coast. To make things a little more exciting, we could expand what we offer to include new edible things that are on brand,” says Lena Mossberg.

In the first phase, the team has investigated what is edible and can also be sustainably

sourced from the sea. The result is a report showing the potential for various species to become future delicacies. The project has now received funding from the Swedish Board of Agriculture to see whether they can commercialise their discoveries.

Megatrends on the food front So what are the big trends to look out for when it comes to food and tourism? “We’re going to see more ‘foodies’ who are curious about new tastes and experiences connected with food. I also think we’re going to be more aware of what we’re putting into our bodies – not just to make us look good, but also to feel good. And, of course, sustainability remains a hot topic. The food waste debate is only going to increase in strength. We’re going to neither be able to nor want to discard food the way we do today. When we held a conference on culinary tourism here at the School of Business, Economics and Law in 2018, with 240 delegates from around 30 countries, we served up waste food, including biscuits made from dried cinnamon buns. They tasted like a Swedish syrup cookie and were very popular,” says Lena Mossberg.

LENA MOSSBERG Professor of marketing. Has been a professor of experience economy at BI Norwegian Business School and visiting professor at Campus Grythyttan, Örebro University. Lena Mossberg works on projects for the Swedish development agency Sida in Tanzania, and has worked as a tourism expert for the UN in China and on eco-tourism in Kenya. She currently holds a professorship at Nord University in Bodö/Lofoten. Lena also chairs the board of the Centre for Tourism.

THE SCHOOL CLIMBS IN INTERNATIONAL RANKING The School is placed in the top 100 in a ranking of international research institutions. In the new Tilburg University Economics Rankings for the period 2014–2018, the Department of Economics is placed 92nd in the world and 34th among European universities.

ALUMNI GATHERINGS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND LONDON Spring 2019 saw the first ever gathering for alumni in San Francisco. Around 20 alumni who graduated between 1970 and 2018 met up for a lovely evening full of laughter and memories. The third alumni event in London was also an enjoyable occasion and a chance to keep up to date on activities at the School.

OUR CENTENARY APPROACHES! 2023 marks 100 years since the School its doors and the nine students in the very first intake began their journey. A great deal has happened since then, but there are also features that remain to this day, such as close collaboration with business and society, and an international perspective. In 2023 we will be looking forward and celebrating with alumni, partners and friends.

How do you think we should mark this special anniversary? Email alumni@handels.gu.se

NEW FEMININE IDEAL BEING CREATED BY FEMALE INFLUENCERS AND BLOGGERS

A whole new feminine ideal is being presented on social media by today’s successful female bloggers and influencers, according to Magdalena Petersson McIntyre, researcher at the Centre for Consumer Research.

“This new ‘ideal’ exploits the image of a glamorous housewife, but by presenting it as entrepreneurship, it also challenges notions of consumption as something passive, rather than production and part of the societal economy,” says Magdalena Petersson McIntyre. She asserts that, while the image of the housewife has largely disappeared as an ideal, roles that replicate a kind of aestheticised housewife ideal have re-emerged on social media.

Personal tragedies measured in cash Women have had to talk about private things, often in front of a video camera, because it is precisely these posts about, for example, feeling bad, that bring in the likes and comments – exactly the response that advertisers demand and that therefore generates income for the bloggers. “The tension between these women’s ‘real life’ and the life shown becomes meaningful in different ways; followers are interested in the relationship between the real and the fictitious and this makes it commercially viable. In particular, it is the change in the blogger’s real body, home or lifestyle that interests them.”

90 YEARS OF NETWORKING AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

Is physical networking dead? Not according to Joakim Hökegård, chair of the alumni association HHGA – which for the past 90 years has offered an arena where former students can exchange knowledge, network and have fun together.

“Finding new recruits and new customers is a challenge for companies, which makes having a good network invaluable. I believe people need to exist in a ‘digiphysical’ world, where they are active in the digital forums, but also meet up in real life now and then. And HHGA is the ideal arena for that,” says Joakim Hökegård.

New knowledge and insights HHGA organises around 40 activities a year, ranging from seminars, lunch meetings and company visits to social events such as after-work gatherings and wine tasting. The 1,600 members bring a mix of new graduates’ curiosity and the experience of older alumni, with everyone learning from each other.

“We contribute to lifelong learning, as members gain knowledge and insights from our interesting speakers,” says Joakim Hökegård. “They might be captains of industry such as SKF’s CEO Alrik Danielsson or former politicians like Leif Pagrotsky. And the speakers themselves are often alumni. But it isn’t all about famous people speaking to large audiences – a successful event could just as well have a narrow focus and be aimed at members in a particular profession.”

Mentoring programme for personal development A few years ago, HHGA set up a Young Alumni Committee that works on the association’s activities for younger graduates. One result is the Mentoring Programme, which was launched in 2018. The programme gives mentees an opportunity, through discussions with a mentor, to create space for reflection, thought and personal development over the course of a year. “The association has always offered informal mentoring through the interactions at our events, but now we’ve created an arena where mentees and mentors can meet in a more formalised way. It has worked out well and the programme is much appreciated by both the mentors and the mentees,” relates Joakim Hökegård.

More activities in Stockholm September saw HHGA celebrate its 90th anniversary with bigname speakers and a magnificent party. The 90th anniversary celebrations also laid down a marker for the future. In addition to being relevant in various digital channels in order to reach all its targets groups, the association also wants to expand its activities in Stockholm, where many alumni head after graduation.

“An association like ours is built on engagement. Around 50–60 work for free on various committees, which gives us incredible energy. Right now, we’re looking for people who would be interested in working on Stockholm-based activities,” concludes Joakim Hökegård.

Handelshögskolans i Göteborg Alumniförening (HHGA) HHGA is an independent association aimed at everyone who has ever studied at the School. The operation began in 1929 and was given financial security when alumnus Axel Adler, owner of dairy giant Arla, transferred ownership of the property that now houses the Kometen restaurant to the association, which later sold it and reinvested the proceeds. In 2007, the association merged with Handels Vänner under the name Civilekonomföreningen Handels Vänner. The current name was adopted in 2011. hhga.se

SHE MAPS VIOLENCE IN THE TRACKS OF THE DRUG CARTELS

Already when Melissa Rubio studied economics at University De Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, she began to dream of a future as a researcher. She was particularly interested in the connection between economic factors and the crime that surrounded her in everyday life. When the time came to choose a postgraduate education, she discovered that several leading researchers in the subject were at the School of Business, Economics and Law in Gothenburg.

Predicting drug-related violence As part of her postgraduate education, Melissa Rubio worked a number of sharp projects. In one paper, she examines how drug-related violence affects trust in Colombian communities. Initially, the research work was about locating the hotbeds of conflict.

“A ton of coca leaves is needed to produce one kilogram of cocaine, so handling requires large land areas. Often, the cocaine is produced in nearby laboratories, which in turn requires labor. The drug cartels must exert a great deal of force to control both agricultural land and communities. I started by studying which biological conditions are optimal for cocaine cultivation. With the help of satellite images, I then got detailed information on temperature, humidity etc and was able to map out where it was appropriate to grow coca. It turned out that it was possible to predict the level of violence in different areas based on that map,” says Melissa Rubio.

But the research climate is the warmer It may seem paradoxical to travel to Gothenburg to learn how to do research on violence and crime in developing countries, but the competence and the research climate decided.

“I heard about researchers like Randi Hjalmarsson and Anna Bindler and was told that the School of Business, Economics and Law was a good place to learn the craft of research. And that turned out to be right. I have very encouraging supervisors and professors in an environment where you discuss ideas with people from all over the world. It has made my research process very rich. I'm not so fond of the winter here, but the research climate is the warmer,” says Melissa Rubio.

Autumn 2019 saw the first students embark on the new Bachelor Programme in Economic History and Human Geography. The new programme provides broad social sciencerelated knowledge on the relationship between economics and societal development generally, while also allowing students to choose whether they wish to specialise in economic history or human geography. Urbanisation, migration and allocation of resources are a common thread running through the programme.

“With society changing more quickly than ever before, we need to equip our students to think in many different ways when it comes to economics. Today’s global societal challenges compel us to provide the students with tools and training in thinking critically and creatively about our opportunities to resolve societal problems. The programme gives students a solid foundation for this through a broad and multifaceted understanding of economics as a concept,” explains programme director Oskar Broberg, Associate Professor in economic history.

Over the three years, the students take courses in economic history, human geography, economics, statistics and innovation & entrepreneurship. The fifth semester is completely open and can be spent studying other subjects. The students also have an opportunity to study at one of the School’s many partner universities around the world, or to take up an internship.

SCHOOL FURTHER IMPROVES BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS EDUCATION

In order to meet societal changes, the School launched a new three-year Bachelor’s Programme in Business and Economics in autumn 2019. The new programme includes a strong focus on independent thinking and sustainability-related social challenges.

Many graduate economists end up in positions where they are able to exert influence. It is therefore important that, during their studies, they appreciate their role in societal development and are trained to make ethical judgements and to form an opinion on various ethical perspectives.

The new programme begins with an introduction to the fields of business administration and economics, giving students an understanding of how the different parts make up the whole. This provides students with context and a springboard for the rest of their education. Two new courses have been added, with a focus on applying knowledge in the areas of business administration and economics. “This makes it clearer to students exactly what skills they are practising and that the aim of the studies is to make them able to independently analyse and assess complex questions. In developing the new programme, we have listened to students’ requests for a more concrete understanding of how the knowledge they gain can be applied in practice, and to employers who have emphasised their need for independent employees with a capacity for critical thinking,” explains programme director Carina Gråbacke.

The programme replaces the School’s previous programme in business and economics. It comprises 180 ECTS credits and results in a Bachelor’s degree. All the students study together for the first three semesters and then choose whether they wish to specialise in business administration, economics or financial management. The fifth semester can be spent exploring or studying a subject of their choice, in Sweden or abroad.

EDUCATION 2020 One semester corresponds to 30 ECTS credits. The first cycle covers the first three years and the second cycle the following two. After that follows postgraduate studies.

PROGRAMMES WITHIN THE FIRST CYCLE Programme in Business and Economics, 180 ECTS credits Programme in Logistics Management, 180 ECTS credits Master of Laws Programme, 270 ECTS credits* Programme in Environmental Social Science, 180 ECTS credits Bachelor Programme in Economic History and Human Geography, 180 ECTS credits *Starts in the first cycle and is completed in the second cycle.

SINGLE SUBJECT COURSES WITHIN THE FIRST CYCLE Business Administration, Economic Geography, Economic History, Economics, Human Geography, Law and Statistics.

SINGLE SUBJECT COURSES WITHIN THE SECOND CYCLE 1 year / 60 ECTS credits (in Swedish). Management of Growing Enterprises, Financial Reporting and Law

MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMMES 2 years / 120 ECTS credits (in English). Accounting and Financial Management, Economics, Finance, Innovation and Industrial Management, International Business and Trade, Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship, Logistics and Transport Management, Management, Marketing and Consumption.

PHD EDUCATION Provided within all the departments at the School. Licentiate and doctoral degrees.

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION Executive MBA. Tailored programmes for companies and public administration.

ADMISSION CREDITS The School stands well in competition and the admission credits are high. BI = Students who are applying based on their original high school grades SweSAT = Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test Maximum credits: BI, 22.5. SweSAT, 2.0.

Second selection, autumn 2019

BI SweSAT Programme in Business and Economics 19.32 1.35 Programme in Logistics Management 18.59 1.15 Master of Laws Programme 20.42 1.35 Programme in Environmental Social Science 14.19 0.75 Bachelor Programme in Economic History and Human Geography The programme started in the autumn of 2019. All applicants were accepted.

96% of those who opted to begin working after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in 2017 found a job within six months. 56% had secured a job before graduation.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL

FACULTY BOARD The Faculty Board is responsible for strategic planning, overall governance, and the quality assurance of education, research and cooperation (outreach) activities. The faculty board also provides a forum for discussions and coordination of the faculty’s activities.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

TERM OF OFFICE 2018-07-01 TO 2024-06-30 Per Cramér, Professor, Dean, Chairperson Marie Stenseke, Professor, Deputy Dean, Deputy Chair

TERM OF OFFICE 2018-07-01 TO 2021-06-30 Ola Bergström, Professor Johan Brink, Senior Lecturer Fredrik Carlsson, Professor Katarina Nordblom, Associate Professor Pernilla Rendahl, Associate Professor Malin Tengblad, Communications officer STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES (1 YEAR) David Olsson, HHGS Hanna Nejstgaard, HHGS Joana Cristina Pedroso, HHDR

REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE EMPLOYEES Monica Meller Eldh, OFR-S Maria Nordqvist/Maria Ahlstedt, SACO SEKO, vacant

ADJUNCT MEMBERS UNTIL 2021-06-30 Ewa Wikström, Professor, Vice Dean, responsible for education at first and second level Ola Olsson, Professor, Vice Dean, responsible for research and postgraduate education Catharina Tillman, Head of Management Office

MANAGEMENT TEAM

The daily management of the School takes place in the management team, consisting of Per Cramér, Dean, Marie Stenseke, Deputy Dean, Ola Olsson, Vice Dean and Ewa Wikström, Vice Dean. The Head of the Faculty Office and the Director of Communications are adjunct to the management team. Per Cramér is responsible for the management’s contacts with society and business and with the University of Gothenburg. He is also responsible for staff, finance, infrastructure and more. Marie Stenseke is responsible for the work on sustainability and the work environment. Ola Olsson is responsible for research and postgraduate education and Ewa Wikström for educational matters.

Corporate Advisory Board

International Academic Advisory Council UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG THE UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

The Faculty Board

Dean Assistant Dean, Vice Dean

Management Office

Environment for Development Gothenburg Research Institute Department of Business Administration Department of Economy and Society

Centre for Consumer Science Centre for Business in Society

Centre for International Business Studies

Centre for Retailing Centre for Regional Analysis

Centrum för Global Human Resource Management Centre for Tourism Department of Economics

Centre for Finance

Centre for Health Economics

Section for Graduate School (Masterprogram, Visiting Professor Programme, Executive MBA) Management Support

International Office

External Relations

Department of Law

Centre for Intellectual Property

Institute for Innovation and Social Change

CORPORATE ADVISORY BOARD The Corporate Advisory Board comprises selected individuals from the business and public sectors. The Board serves to support the School’s management in discussions on strategically important issues. The Dean of the School is a permanent member. The Assistant Dean, the Vice Deans and the President of the Student Union are entitled to attend the meetings.

MEMBERS Lena Apler, Chairman of the Board, Collector AB Stefan Brocker, Partner, Mannheimer & Swartling Advokatbyrå AB Eva Halvarsson, CEO, Second AP Fund Christian Johansson Katarina Ljungqvist, Regional Manager, Handelsbanken Michael McGrath, Director of Corporate Affairs/HR Director, Stena Metall AB Johan Malmsten (Chairman), Chairman of the Board, The Richard C Malmsten Memorial Foundation Per Cramér, Dean, School of Business, Economics and Law

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL (IAAC)

The Council was established in 2013, with the aim to further strengthen the international dimension in the School’s governance. It serves in a consultative role, providing ideas and critical feedback to the Management Team. The Council meets annually and focuses on strategic questions relating to the enhancement of quality in research and education.

The Members of the Council are recruited based on personal merits and include participants from the Visiting Professor Programme as well as international academics awarded the title of Dr honoris causa at the School.

MEMBERS Sharmistha Bagchi-Sen, Professor, University at Buffalo – The State University of New York, USA Emma Bell, Professor, the Open University, Great Britain Shubhashis Gangopadhyay, Professor, Shiv Nadar University, India Michael Kirchler, Professor, University of Innsbruck, Austria Petros Mavroidis, Professor, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland & European University Institute, Italy

Project Management, School of Business, Economics and Law: Maria Norrström and Sophie Gräsberg. Design and production: Frank&Earnest. Photo: Carina Gran, Johan Wingborg/University of Gothenburg, Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna, Vojtech Bruzek/Unsplash, Simon E Carter, Riksbyggen, HHGA, S.E.R.O., Aalto University Executive Education. From Mostphotos: Michael Erhardsson, Svetlana Gorodetskaya, LightField, Arnaud Neydt. From the School: Kajsa Fung, Sophie Gräsberg, Erika Holm, Jeffrey Johns, Maria Norrström, Trisha Rajput, Cecilia Sjöberg, Malin Tengblad, Marie Örninge.