Time to appoint teacher representatives to the university's board
2025-12-11
- The Election Committee will nominate teacher representatives no later than 16 February 2026 and the election of teacher representatives will take place during week 10, 2–6 March.
- Contact the committee if you are interested in becoming a teacher representative or want to nominate a colleague.
- The Election Committee consists of Birgitta Wallin, Lars Hallnäs, and Leif Sandsjö. They can be reached by email:
valberedning@hb.se
A total of three representatives of the teachers are on the Governing Board of the University of Borås and everyone who is a teacher at the university at least 50 percent of a full-time position can vote or be elected.
As a teacher representative, you are expected to represent the entire teaching staff, not just your own department, and look out for the best interests of the university. Teacher representatives must contribute with their own expertise to active and effective board work and feel responsible for the task.
Personal development and the opportunity to influence
One of the three teacher representatives who sit on the university's board is Lena Hedén, Professor, Department of Caring Science. She has represented the teaching staff during two terms, 2020–2023 and now 2023–2026.
“As a teacher representative, you get both personal development and an opportunity to influence. You get the whole picture of the academic world, and an understanding of what affects our work in more detail, which is very interesting,” said Lena Hedén.
What do you do as a teacher representative?
“We have committed external members and my role is partly to provide the inside perspective, it is we teachers who see what is happening internally. The teacher representative's task is to raise their hand, ask questions, and alert the board to if we have missed any perspective. This is an important part of highlighting the university's strengths.”
Is there anything to consider particularly about the role?
“Yes, it is that you represent the entire faculty and the entire University of Borås and not just the specific Faculty you work at.”
What do you get out of being a teacher representative on the board?
“We have great people on the board and we are listened to. You get to make a difference. It's a fantastic opportunity to be part of such contexts. It's great that there are 17 of us at the meetings who all want the best for the university. Then it strengthens the opportunity for collaboration and as an individual you gain a good network of contacts. It is energising and enjoyable to be a teacher representative.”
Educational and inspirational
Firouze Pourmand Hilmersson, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Business Administration and Textile Management, has been a teacher representative for one period.
What do you do as a teacher representative?
“My role is to represent the employees at the university and as a teaching staff member, I can highlight that particular perspective, so I make various contributions to the board.”
What do you get out of being a teacher representative?
“It's great fun to work with strategic issues and to gain insight into the university and not just into how things work at your own department or Faculty. It is very instructive and inspiring to be in such a constellation as the board and it is valuable that we have members from the business community on board – and I think we have a fantastic Chair.”
Why should you become a teacher representative?
“It's easy to just focus on your own tasks. As a teacher representative, you get an insight into the whole at the university and can contribute to improvements. But above all, you must want to contribute to the development of the organisation.”
The ultimate way to make an impact
The third current teacher representative is Håkan Svensson, Lecturer at the Department of Engineering.
What do you do as a teacher representative?
“As a teacher representative, I am a member of the board, elected by my teaching colleagues at the university. I monitor the issues that come up there and that affect the role of teachers at the university, but I also have to take responsibility for the whole university. I contribute to the board, especially to the external members, about what can be expected when decisions are made, how it is received in the organisation.”
What do you get out of being a teacher representative?
“For me, it's the ultimate way to be able to influence my workplace and work to make the university a good place to work. With my background in industrial engineering and management, economic issues are close to my heart. From my small role as a teacher at the operational level, I gain an understanding of the highest strategic level in the organisation.”
Why should you become a teacher representative?
“You can influence the future of the university. It's also fun and there is a good group on the board.”
Read more
Solveig Klug
Anna Sigge / Ida Danell / Suss Wilén