SLU plays an important part in achieving a sustainable society. We conduct research and education that relate to many of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals – Agenda 2030 – not least to their complexity and conflicts between objectives. We have a history of close collaboration with society. As a university, we contribute to solving global challenges, such as food security, energy supply as well as both human and animal welfare. And we are always close by, regardless of where you live in Sweden.
I became a Master of Science in Engineering Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, but the journey from my low-income suburb to a university was not straightforward. A fun degree project with ABB Switchgear at the Department of Physics subsequently led to a doctoral project with Sandvik Hard Materials. The common denominator was transmission electron microscopy and how microstructure controls material properties.
After I received my doctoral degree in 1996, I got a post as assistant professor at the Department of Metallic Materials. I did research on new materials and taught materials engineering and engineering design. Here, my environmental interest benefitted both my guest lectures as well as my own courses.
In addition to research and education, I am committed to internationalisation, sustainability integration and leadership. Starting from 2000, I have for many years been part of an initiative (CDIO – Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate), developing a new engineering education model. As a global theme leader in a fast-growing network, I saw the importance of international connections and experience exchange in order to become a high-quality higher education institution.
In 2007, I became responsible for an international Master's programme in materials engineering; in 2010, I also got the opportunity to lead an international leadership exchange programme in collaboration with companies. In 2006, I took part in a project to coach programme heads and faculty on integrating sustainability perspectives in education (ESD – Education for Sustainable Development). From 2009, I also coached researchers in one of Chalmers' new Areas of Advance: Production.
From 2008 to 2010, I was part of the Chalmers committee for pedagogical skills development, and in 2011, I was given a completely new role: educational development leader. The same year, I was appointed vice chairman at the Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV).
In 2012, I became vice president of education (as well as lifelong learning in 2018). At Chalmers, this means being responsible for programme heads, programmes and courses, student work environment, educational development and education budget. The post also entailed, in collaboration with the line management, responsibility for learning facilities, faculty competence development, IT, internationalisation and student support, etc. During this time, I made good use of the experiences from nine higher education institution evaluations I made for Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic public authorities.
Education and university appointments
Vice-Chancellor of SLU, 15 June 2019
Vice President of Education and Lifelong Learning, Chalmers University of Technology, 2012–2019
Department of Industrial and Materials Science, Chalmers:
Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology:
Schillerska upper-secondary school, Gothenburg, natural sciences programme, 1983
Internal assignments at Chalmers (completed):
External assignments and commitments (active assignments in cursive):
Awards
Chalmers Educational Award, 2009
The Jakob Wallenberg Award; Swedish materials research, 2007
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg scholarship for young female researchers, 1998–99
Chalmers' Materialcentrum Award for the best licentiate thesis, 1991
I have been the main supervisor or examiner for four doctoral students and more than 25 degree projects.
Also see: Maria Knutson Wedel Google Scholar