PRESENTATION 2015
Design Mecka Images Veronika Båtori, Moa Carlsson, Lena M Fredriksson, Daniel Grizelj, Patrik Johäll/Superstudio, Mecka, Ulf Nilsson/mimbild, Anna Sigge. Printing Responstryck AB, 2015.
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BORÅS! I’m the Vice-Chancellor of a university at the cutting edge, a university that invests in its students and its employees. Our programmes provide an academic foundation, as well as an education that leads to employment. Our starting point is a concept in which theory and practice are two interwoven perspectives, each enriching the other – in simple terms, science for professions. Research at the University of Borås is currently undergoing expansion. Our research projects, such as our unique textile research, have already attracted international attention. We’re now investing further resources in broadening our research and employing more researchers. Our philosophy is to give students, teachers, and researchers the opportunity to broaden their horizons, make new contacts, and contribute to the development of a university that’s already at the forefront. We strive to be a welcoming, friendly university with strong links to the business world and the community around us. Together we can address the challenges we’re facing and develop our activities to achieve results. This brochure provides more about our university, but please don’t hesitate to contact me or one of my colleagues if you have any questions.
Björn Brorström, Vice-Chancellor
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THE UNIVERSITY’S VISION Our vision is clear – the University of Borås will become the third university with full academic rights in West Sweden within five years. This not only benefits us as a higher education institution, but is necessary for our region not to fall behind in terms of social development. Being a university with full academic rights is much more than just a name. It’s a sign of the quality of the education we provide. It bolsters our right to research, and gives us better possibilities to attract staff and students. Gaining university status also provides us with better financial conditions for growth and for profiling our activities. To realise our vision, we’re working on three key tasks:
linked to research at all levels, and students should be actively involved in research as early as possible. Increase the share of research. This would be a ratio of 60:40. Our target is for teaching to comprise 60 per cent of the university’s total activities, and research 40 per cent. Complete academic environments. We will offer undergraduate, postgraduate and research-level education in all areas. Our objective is to have a research programme in all areas in addition to well-developed partnerships with other organi sations and educational institutions.
Students’ learning is central. We will develop a learning environment based on current research. Education will be
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IN CENTRAL BORÅS Few universities can boast a single city-centre campus. Students, teachers, researchers, and businesses from various fields and industries come together around Akademiplatsen, where cafés and restaurants can be found alongside our lecture theatres and library. Adjacent to the campus is the Textile Fashion Center, located on an industrial estate that has been home to textile production for over a century. The building has been renovated to feature a modern, industrial
The River Viskan has provided hydroelectric power for several businesses in Borås and Sjuhärad over the years. It can here be seen flowing through Stadsparken and past Sandwalls plats.
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style that is adapted to the textile industry of the future. The Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås, the Textile Museum, the Market Place networking venue, and the business community are all located here. Our city campus not only serves as a place to meet, but also as the beating heart of the city that invigorates our students and the city’s residents. In a few years’ time, Borås’ new congress centre will also be established in the neighbourhood.
The entire campus is located around Akademiplatsen, with the library, businesses, and lecture theatres in the centre of the city.
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OUR PROGRAMMES Programmes at the University of Borås are organised in three faculties, which are multidisciplinary and work across established borders. · Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business · Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare · Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT We offer Bachelor’s and Master’s (both one and two years) degrees. Our students come from all over Sweden, primarily to study at the Swedish School of Textiles and the Swedish School of Library and Information Science. Our Master’s degrees are attended by students from across the globe. Our objective is to have degrees that are run in close co-operation with companies and organisations. Close collaboration between the academic and business worlds not only increases the chances of our students finding employment once they graduate, but we’re also convinced that this approach is beneficial for both the region and society at large.
LIBRARY The University of Borås has invested considerable energy and resources in the university library. It is currently one of the best libraries in Sweden, with 20 librarians and around 320,000 visitors a year. The library serves as a hub where students, researchers and the public can study and read in peace and quiet. Rooms can also be booked for groups. The library is actively working towards sustainability, such as the increased use of e-books, using digital methods, and providing support to our students studying via distance learning.
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PREPATORY LEVEL ·· Preparatory Year (Technical Subjects) ·· Preparatory Year (Technical Subjects) for Students Applying to BSc Programme in Textile Technology
BACHELOR’S LEVEL (FIRST CYCLE)
MASTER’S LEVEL (SECOND CYCLE)
·· Business Administration
·· Business Administration
·· Business Informatics
·· Caring Sciences in High-Tech and Pre-hospital Environments
·· Business Informatics with Specialisation in International Marketing and IT
·· Civil Engineering – Sustainable Built Environment
·· Chemical Engineering - Applied Biotechnology
·· Educational Work
·· Civil Engineering
·· Fashion and Textile Design
·· Computer and Systems Science
·· Informatics
·· Design Technician
·· Library and Information Science (distance)
·· Energy and Process Technology
·· Library and Information Science, Digital Library and Information Services
·· Energy Engineering ·· Event Management ·· Fashion Design ·· Industrial Engineering – Business and Engineering ·· Industrial Engineering – Logistics ·· Industrial Engineering – Work Organisation and Leadership
·· Library and Information Science, Strategic Information and Communication (distance) ·· Midwifery ·· Resource Recovery ·· Social Sciences with a Major in Work Science ·· Specialist Nursing – Anaesthesia Care
·· IT Technician
·· Specialist Nursing – Intensive Care
·· Librarianship (campus/distance)
·· Specialist Nursing – Mental Health Care
·· Mechanical Engineering – Product Development
·· Specialist Nursing – Pre-hospital Emergency Care
·· Nursing
·· Specialist Nursing – Primary Health Care
·· Organisational and Human Resource Development
·· Textile Engineering
·· Preschool Teacher Education Programme
·· Textile Management with Specialisation Fashion Management
·· Preschool Teacher Education Programme for Staff Already Working ·· Public Administrator Studies
·· Textile Management with Specialisation Textile Value Chain Management
·· Retail Education with Specialisation in Textile and Fashion ·· Systems Science ·· Teacher Education Programme for Schoolgrades 7 to 9: Swedish, English, Swedish as a Second Language ·· Teacher Education Programme for Work in Preschool Class and Schoolgrades 1 to 3 ·· Teacher Education Programme for Work in School Leisure-Time Centre ·· Teacher Education Programme for Work in Schoolgrades 4 to 6 ·· Textile Design ·· Textile Management and Business Administration ·· Textile Product Development and Entrepreneurship ·· Textile Technology ·· Web Content Manager and Designer (campus/distance)
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RESEARCH THAT CHANGES SOCIETY Research at the University of Borås focuses on sustainability. This means that we conduct research projects that examine how to develop a society with a long term perspective. How can we save Earth’s resources? What would be most profitable in the long run? How do we increase wellbeing? We take an interdisciplinary approach in our research to gain new perspectives on exciting issues. We are also one of the few higher education institutions in Sweden that is authorised to conduct artistic research. In our case in textiles and fashion.
Our research is divided into the following areas: · Business and IT · The Human Perspective in Care · Library and Information Science · Resource Recovery · Teacher Education and Education Work · Textiles and Fashion (design) · Textiles and Fashion (general)
RESEARCH DEGREE AUTHORISATION The University of Borås is currently authorised to award research degrees in four areas: Library and Information Science, Resource Recovery, Textiles and Fashion (design), and Textiles and Fashion (general). Doctoral education in Business and IT, Integrated Caring Science and Teacher Education and Education Work is conducted in co-operation with our partner universities.
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How can our research help to overcome future challenges in the Norrby district of BorĂĽs? Read more at hb.se/en/Research 11
UNIQUE RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF TEXTILES The university’s research in smart textiles has resulted in several innovations, such as the knitted stent. Stents are already used as medical devices to widen constricted blood vessels. A knitted stent can be unravelled and removed once the blood vessel has widened and healed. The University of Borås is also the initiator and co-ordinator for the ArcInTex European Training Network (ETN) – a European research project funded by the prestigious Marie SkłodowskaCurie Actions. 15 doctoral students have been employed to conduct research in architecture, textile design, fashion design, and interaction design. The aim is to develop technologies, methods and design applications that provide us with new perspectives on future lifestyles and alternative ways of living.
CAN TECHNOLOGY-DENSE CARE ENVIRONMENTS ACCELERATE RECOVERY? Critically ill patients are currently treated in intensive care facilities that are often situated in crowded and noisy wards. Although several new wards are being planned and built, insufficient attention is being paid to research that shows how conditions can be improved for patients and their families. Researchers at the University of Borås want to influence the design of new wards so that they contribute to socially sustainable and healing environments that make a positive difference to patients’ well-being, recovery, and the length of time spent in care. A special patient room in the intensive care unit at Södra Älvsborg Hospital has been renovated and furnished according to research-based principles in terms of lighting environment, sound environment, and interiors. A normal patient room serves as a comparison.
INCREASED ETHANOL PRODUCTION USING INDONESIAN MUSHROOMS Ethanol is currently produced in Sweden from wholegrain wheat. By adding filamentous (thread-forming) fungi as an extension to the process, our researchers have found a way to increase ethanol production significantly. The new process also produces ethanol from the cellulose of the wheat husk. Work to develop methods of producing ethanol from cellulose has been underway for decades. The experiments have been scaled up from 80 millilitres in one of the laboratories at the University of Borås, to 80 cubic metres at Lantmännen Agroetanol. In 2015, there are plans for the ethanol to be produced in 1,000 cubic metre reactors for eventual sale. The fungus is not just an environmental hero, but also a popular Indonesian dish.
PRESERVING OUR DIGITAL HERITAGE The University of Borås is part of the international research project PERICLES (Promoting and Enhancing Reuse of Information throughout the Content Lifecycle taking account of Evolving Semantics). As part of this project, researchers study the challenge of how best to preserve digital objects and materials. Information currently stored on DVDs, for instance, is at risk of being lost. What are the technical possibilities for long-term storage of digital information? Researchers are not just considering technological change in this project, but are also taking content into account so that people who use the material in the future are able to see changes in semantics and society at large.
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CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAMMES LEARNING, LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS SMART TEXTILES
SMS SOCIAL MEDIA STUDIES SWEDISH CENTRE FOR RESOURCE RECOVERY
STRATEGIC RESEARCH PROGRAM IN DATA SCIENCE
F:3 FASHION, FUNCTION, FUTURES RCIW RESEARCH AND CAPABILITY IN INCLUSION AND WELFARE
AGEING, LIVING, LEARNING IT, SERVICE AND MANAGEMENT
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Number of employees
Number of degrees
Number of full-time students
Number of students
13,000 5,768 2,255 714
kSEK Turnover
615,337
53 68 Number of professors
Number of doctoral students
THE UNIVERSITY IN FIGURES 2014 15
THE HOME OF SCANDINAVIAN TEXTILES The Swedish School of Textiles offers training in design, textile technology and textile management. Degrees are awarded at Bachelor’s, Master’s (one year or two years), and postgraduate research level. Textile education in Borås dates back to 1866 when the Technical Weaving School was founded in the city. Borås has been an important location for textile production in Scandinavia for over a century and we have chosen to keep this artisanal knowledge alive. Today, students at the Swedish School of Textiles combine creativity and theory with practical work. The machine halls offer hand knitting machines, advanced 3D technology, textile printing, and colour laboratories. The Swedish School of Textiles offers some of the best training in the world in its field and attracts students from around the globe. Furthermore, co-operation and contact with the business community is strong. Research at the Swedish School of Textiles has two primary focuses: design and general. A number of research projects are investigating questions such as how we can create a more sustainable textile industry? Which textile materials are we likely to use in the future? How can textiles be used in healthcare and the human body?
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Using fabric draped around a moving body as his basis, Rickard Lindqvist, Senior Lecturer at the Swedish School of Textiles has created a new and flexible framework for designing clothes.
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THE BOOK, THE WEB, AND THE FUTURE The Swedish School of Library and Information Science was founded in 1972 and offers internationally recognised education and research in library and information science. The Swedish School of Library and Information Science offers Sweden’s most comprehensive librarian education. Education is organised within the Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT, and crosses borders to enable students to develop and learn from each other. The rapid development of the information society has changed the classic role of the librarian. For this reason, the Swedish School of Library and Information Science also trains web editors, information specialists, and information architects to deal with the challenges and vocational roles of the future. Students are offered a variety of Master’s programmes in library and information science. We are entitled to award doctoral degrees in Library and Information Science. The research within Library and Information Science at the University of Borås has three primary areas: · Information use/information behaviour · Digitalisation and digital libraries · Libraries, cultural policy and information policy
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1866 1936 1940 Technical School of Weaving founded.
Technical School of Weaving becomes the Textile Institute.
West Sweden’s College of Nursing formed.
1977 1980 1982 University of Borås founded.
Business and IT courses begin.
The Textile Institute is nationalised and becomes The Swedish School of Textiles.
1996 1999 2000 Professorship in Library and Information Science established.
The regional college of nursing becomes a school at the University of Borås.
First Professorial Inauguration.
2011 2013 2014 The University implements certified Environmental Management System (iso 14001).
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The Swedish School of Textiles moves to the new Textile Fashion Centre.
First Conferment of Doctoral Degrees.
1966 1970 1972 The preschool teacher seminar founded in Borås.
University courses from University of Gothenburg relocated.
The Swedish School of Library and Information Science established in Borås.
1989 1991 1995 Engineering programme begins.
Municipal hand weaving training becomes part of the university.
The university is authorised to confer one-year master degrees.
2004 2007 2010 The university’s new library opens.
The university is authorised to provide master-level education.
The university is authorised to provide research-level education.
2015 The university has a full range of Master’s programmes.
SEAT OF LEARNING SINCE 1866 21
THE UNIVERSITY OF BORÅS Chairman of the Board of the University of Borås
Dean of Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business
Roland Andersson
Mikael Löfström
Vice-Chancellor
Dean of Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare
Björn Brorström
Pro Vice-Chancellor Martin Hellström
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Jenny Johannisson
Chairman of the Research and Education Board Martin G Erikson
Lotta Englund
Dean of Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT Ann-Sofie Axelsson
University Director Karin Cardell
Director of Communications Annie Andréasson
Chairwoman of the Artistic Research and Education Board
Director of Library
Hanna Landin
Svante Kristensson
Chairwoman of the Student Union in Borås Helny Malmborg
Find more contacts at hb.se/contact
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A SYMBOL OF WHO WE ARE “On a gold field, a pedlar with a shoulder bag over his left shoulder, a garment draped over his left arm, an elm wood stick in his left hand and small bell in his right, all black. The shield is topped with the royal crown and embellished by a laurel wreath, whose knot is overlaid with sheep shears, dexter reversed, all in gold.” This official text describing our heraldic symbol is called a blazon. In more everyday language, the pedlar – or travelling salesman – has existed in our region since the Middle Ages and was of both economic and social benefit to the area. Similar areas exist in Northern Italy, Southern Germany, Flanders, and England. These areas have always been quick to emerge from economic crises, creating new commercial patterns for economic development. The sheep shears are a symbol of the town and our textile history. The laurel wreath represents our academic affiliation. The colours gold and black are the colours of Västergötland. Through our choice of symbol, our intention is to demonstrate our connection with our region’s history and character.
University of Borås • 501 90 Borås • Sweden • +46 (0)33-435 40 00 • www.hb.se/en facebook.com/universityofboras