Malmo University

Malmö University strives to be part of society at every level. Whether that is regionally, nationally or globally, its focus is making the world a better and fairer place. We have a mission to be an active hub for research, education and innovation. Our research is often multidisciplinary and pursued in collaboration with partners from outside of the university. Offers high quality education where teachers and students work closely together, and under graduates are seen as important contributors to the learning process. Promotes an entrepreneurial and innovative learning environment that influences and is influenced by the education and research at Malmö University. Boasts multidisciplinary programmes whereby students learn from different faculties, crucially important in an increasingly complex job market. Truly international classrooms where around a third of students have an international background – invaluable for students who are looking for a global career. Students have the opportunity to study abroad. We have agreements with approximately 250 universities around the world.

At Malmö University, research and education shall be innovative, international and boundary-crossing and safeguard the strengths and properties that characterise the university. Malmö University contributes to a sustainable and moreequal society through research-based knowledge, criticalreflection and readiness to act. Malmö University is founded on the human, democraticand academic values that have emerged from theideals of an open society, freedom of speech andcritical thinking.

Malmö University provides high quality education andresearch through which, in collaboration with othersocietal actors, we create, share and disseminateknowledge to understand, explain and develop society.At Malmö University, the particularities and traditionsof the different disciplines are respected and given theopportunity to be clearly expressed. Overarching goals for education and research at Malmö University:

• Long-term, nationally and internationally outstanding research which, together with doctoral education, constitutes one third of the university’s activities
• Education grounded in research, in terms of teaching methods as well as subject matter, which provides the conditions for inclusive and student-active life-long learning
• Strong, coherent and boundary-crossing international academic environments in which education, research and collaboration are integrated

All education at the university is to be of high quality and to meet the skills and knowledge needs of both society and individuals. Read on to find out about the university’s quality enhancement work. Quality enhancement is conducted mainly at the study programme level but also university-wide. The work is followed up annually, in part by the university’s education board in which the students’ unions are represented. The university’s quality enhancement work is integral to all the activities at the University and based on the following four cornerstones:

• Quality of education
• Student influence
• Staff professional development
• Systematic follow-up

Our study programmes are evaluated both within the university and through external reviews by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ). In early 2016 the Riksdag decided on a new evaluation system. Previously, UKÄ reviewed the attainment of learning outcomes in degree projects. The new system entails UKÄ also reviewing the university’s quality assurance work in education. At the university, we are continuously working on course and programme evaluations and we follow up on their results in various forums. Working continuously to improve and develop student influence is one of the cornerstones of quality enhancement work at Malmö University. We strive to encourage students to take an active role in the further development of education. The students’ participation in the implementation, evaluation and development of education is crucial to its quality. Student influence is a tool for the University’s work to promote democratic values. Student co-determination reinforces both the study environment and the students’ learning processes. There are three students’ unions at Malmö University – the Malmö Students’ Union, the Dentistry Students’ Union and the Malmö Doctoral Students’ Union.

In order to ensure that the university meets external demands for educational quality and internally formulated principles of quality, systematic follow-up is carried out. The university’s study programmes are continuously followed up through tools such as course and programme evaluations and student and alumni surveys. In addition, several key performance indicators are regularly monitored, including the number of applicants per place, admissions, completed courses and degrees. The results of the evaluations, surveys and quality enhancing initiatives are discussed in various educational bodies at the university, in which students are also represented. These processes are described in more detail in the university’s general framework for quality enhancement in first and second cycle education.

Internationalisation and diversity have always been core values for Malmö University. In accordance, to maintain a high standard of teaching and research we make use of international interaction. The university co-operates with academic partner institutes around the world; it strives to ensure favourable conditions for teachers and researchers to obtain and foster international co-operation with universities worldwide. In addition, students are offered the opportunity to study abroad.

Malmö University welcomes students from many of the 290 universities it has exchange agreements with. By participating in programmes such as Erasmus+ it can offer scholarships to students to study at Malmö, as well as sending its own staff and students overseas. Participation in thematic networks, such as the International Network of Universities and SGroup, has encouraged staff exchange and new opportunities for research collaboration.