Ove Lundberg, Dr Head of department of Economic history Former Director of Distance Education UMEÅ UNIVERSITY

Polar circle

Umeå in Sweden

This is Umeå University 26,690 students 4,246 employees Inaugurated professorships faculties 52 female professors 1,390 postgraduate students 58 departments (equivalent) 24 centres 2,900 millions SEK in annual turnover football fields 5

University - Visions Respected and committed Desire for development Success together

Revenues 2004 University total Total 2,816 mSEK Figures in krona (millions) (rounded amounts) Other (non-budgeted) contributions 507 Interest and other financial revenues 20 Budgeted government grants 1,905 Fees and compensation payments 384

Campus area

University hospital area

Northern Sweden's largest city 109,000 inhabitants A cultural centre with opera, theatre groups and festivals 180 kilometres of cycle paths 160 kilometres of exercising tracks One of the world's foremost cities for Internet use and broadband development Expansive industrial base, with for instance Biomedicine

Umeå Institute of Design Umeå School of Business and Economics Umeå University School of Physical Education and Sports Umeå School of Fine Arts Umeå School of Environmental Studies (in co-operation with SLU) Umeå University School of Restaurant and Culinary Arts Umeå Institute of Technology Other research institutes in Umeå National Institute of Working Life Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, NBC Defence SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) Colleges within the University

Number of students per year

Range and choices 120 programmes courses Apart from ordinary form and rate of study: Distance University Web University Summer University

Research profile Life sciences Interactions between humans, artifacts and IT Welfare, democracy and security The northern dimension Ecological sustainability Gender perspective Teacher education and teaching profession

Teacher education and teaching profession Focus on practice, related to schools and professional issues, characterized of a multi- and disciplinary approach Equity and ethics: democracy, gender and antiracism Development of practice: implementation, action research and reflective practitioners Roles of school and university students and teachers Basic skills: reading, writing and mathematics Subject didactics and learning difficulties Aesthetics: arts education, sloyd and handicraft Formal, informal and entrepreneurial learning ICT in education, youth culture and distance education Guidance, counselling and special needs Research profile Faculty of Teacher Education

Umeå University – not just in Umeå Kiruna – just under 200 students, 4 programmes Lycksele – approx. 100 students, 3 programmes Skellefteå – approx. 700 students, 11 programmes Örnsköldsvik – approx. 400 students, 8 programmes Sollefteå – just under 200 students, 2 programmes In addition to these, Umeå University provides courses at 19 other places Student numbers = full time students both programmes and courses

Historical perspective Hermodsmodel Teaching versus learning Worldexperiences Open University (Great Brittain) Fernuniversität (Germany) Distance Education

Enthusiasts Technical infrastructure (Heavy) Support from head of department Distance education as a portal for regular education Responsibility to be in the edge. New teaching methods A clear STRATEGY Early experiences from a faculty point of view