Movium and SLU Urban Futures appoint a joint head of operations

The Dean has appointed Senior Lecturer Lina Berglund-Snodgrass as the joint head of operations. Lina has held a corresponding role for Movium since November 2023 and is now tasked with further developing and deepening the collaboration between the two units.

The new organization creates increased opportunities to consolidate expertise, clarify shared objectives, and generate synergies between research, practice, and policy.

At the same time, Movium and SLU Urban Futures retain their respective roles, with Movium being affiliated with the LTV Faculty and SLU Urban Futures operating across faculties for the benefit of the entire university. Work within the landscape domain thereby connects to several of SLU’s areas of activity and strengthens links between different research fields and societally relevant issues.

What do you see as the greatest opportunities with a joint organization for Movium and SLU Urban Futures?

– The merger gives us better conditions to work in a more coordinated and strategic manner across our shared areas. Movium and SLU Urban Futures have long collaborated on research, continuing education, and dialogue with stakeholders regarding the challenges facing cities and regions. The merger makes it easier to coordinate resources and to more clearly support both the faculty and SLU as a whole.

Which issues will be most important for you to prioritize during your initial period in the role?

– Getting to know the organization, the staff, and our strengths. The next step is to formulate a joint strategy and build an organization with clear roles and responsibilities. Teachers, researchers, and students at SLU form the core of our activities – it should be easy for them to contribute and to derive value from the work we do. And of course, we must continue to be a place where staff thrive, feel engaged, and have the space and mandate to act professionally.

What can platforms such as Movium and SLU Urban Futures contribute to today’s academic landscape?

– I believe we play an incredibly important role in an academic climate that is often characterized by a high pace. We support researchers, teachers, and students by providing important meeting places for collaboration and synergies between disciplines, professions, and international researchers. This is particularly crucial within the urban field, but also within the landscape field in a broader sense, where complex societal challenges require interdisciplinary approaches and close links between research, practice, and policy. These are aspects that are not always accommodated in the pressures of academic life, yet they are essential for quality, relevance, and for ensuring that SLU’s knowledge has real impact in society.