Changes in higher education pedagogical activities

HUF is jointly funded by the university's Faculties and has an overall mission of conducting higher education training and research founded on research findings. The unit, which is today organisationally located at the Department of Educational Work, offers courses in higher education pedagogy; higher education pedagogical consultation to Faculties, departments, or teachers/teaching teams; and conducts research into teaching and learning in higher education.

Between December 2024 and March 2025, a review of the higher education pedagogical activities at the University of Borås was carried out with a focus on how these activities can be financed and organised in the future. In recent years, the university's finances have suffered setbacks, as described in a previous employee news article. There are several reasons for this, including increased reimbursements for certain areas of education combined with reduced education funding and the fact that higher education institutions are not compensated for cost increases linked to inflation.

“All four Faculties are facing financial constraints and have recognised the need to adjust the level of funding for higher education activities. This is a very sad announcement to make,” said Åsa Söderlind, Dean of Faculty at the Faculty of Librarianship, Information, Education and IT.

In April 2025, an agreement was reached between the Faculties on a new level of funding: SEK 2.3 million, compared to SEK 10.3 million previously, to cover the basic range of higher education pedagogy courses. This change in operations was negotiated with the employer and union representatives in June. Work is currently underway to adjust and re-plan activities to these new economic conditions.

“A small group of individual staff members are directly affected by the change, as they have their main duties within HUF.  Teaching staff who spend part of their time (a certain percentage) working on higher education courses will also have less time for these courses,” said Åsa Söderlind.

The change in activities is not linked to and does not affect other parts of the Department of Educational Work. The process of union negotiations will continue in the autumn.