After Mats Larhed’s introduction, everyone was divided into seven groups with 8–9 participants per group. All groups had the same task: to develop 3–6 profile areas for Medfarm. A meeting chair led the work and an appointed secretary summarised the discussion. A summation ended the day.
Seven groups worked hard to come up with proposals for 3–6 profile areas for the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy.
2022-09-09Process for profile areas at Medfarm
On Tuesday 6 September, Vice-Rector Mats Larhed held a workshop with faculty representatives to develop proposals for the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy’s profile areas. The workshop was held to increase faculty involvement and to provide the opportunity to come up with proposals for profile areas.
Find out more about the profile areas
Reasons for a new allocation model and need for higher education institutions' profile areas
The government intends to introduce a new model for quality-based allocation of ‘increased grants’ for research and education at postgraduate level. The model will serve as a tool for the distribution of increased direct research grants.
New quality-based allocation of research funding from 2024
Elaborated proposal for quality-based resource allocation
The Swedish Research Council, Forte, Formas and Vinnova were commissioned by the Swedish government to develop a model for quality-based allocation, and the proposal was approved on 30 May 2022. Profile areas will be allocated funds in a quality-based model.
A ‘profile area’ as defined in the instructions must involve high-quality strategic research efforts that the universities themselves define and that the Vice-Chancellor decides and applies for. The profile areas must strengthen the research profiles of the higher education institutions and contribute to enhanced quality of research.
There is currently no information on how much money will be distributed through the profile areas. In the autumn of 2024, a new research bill will be announced, and proposals on financial frameworks are expected in 2025.
What is a profile area?
According to the Swedish government’s terms of reference, profile areas must:
- be strategic research initiatives of high quality
- strengthen the higher education institutions’ research profiles
- contribute to enhanced quality of research
The profile areas can include both new and more established research areas. Each higher education institution may submit an application that describes one or more profile areas. Uppsala University intends to submit an application with 4–6 profile areas for the entire university.
Assessment of profile areas
A profile area's quality will be assessed based on scientific quality, the profile area's prospects for producing research of the highest quality, and quality in collaboration with society.
An international panel of approximately 10 people at senior levels and with backgrounds in various fields is responsible for the assessment of all applications. For assessment of the scientific quality, the panel can be supported by additional experts.
No decision has yet been taken on how this initiative will be evaluated, but the government intends to take up evaluation after six to seven years to see if the model has led to development of the profile areas and if it has been a quality driver.
Uppsala University's profile areas
Uppsala University's application must show that it is a leading research university with broad research of high scientific quality. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects will be considered, as well as collaborations with other Swedish higher education institutions, when developing Uppsala University's profile areas. Each disciplinary domain may submit proposals for 6 profile areas to the Vice-Chancellor. Uppsala University's final application will contain 4–6 profile areas.
Medfarm’s timetable for working on profile areas
The Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy faces a tight timetable. In August, profile areas were discussed in the pharmaceutical and medical committees, which came up with several ideas. The disciplinary domain held its workshop on 6 September.
The Executive Committee (arbetsutskottet) will be informed and discussions held in the Vice-Rector’s Management Group (vicerektors ledningsgrupp) about proposals from the committees and from the workshop. Scientific writers for each profile area will also be appointed in September. In October, the Executive Committee and the Board of the Disciplinary Domain will make their decisions, and after that the Vice-Rector will put the profile areas proposed by the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy to the Vice-Chancellor. On 28 October, the Vice-Rector must submit the developed proposal to the Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University.
Timetable for Uppsala University
Uppsala University has a University-wide timetable. On 28 June 2022, the Vice-Chancellor decided on the plan for the work on profile areas, and now in September the Vice-Chancellor will inform the University Board about the process. The vice-rectors for the three disciplinary domains are due to submit proposals for profile areas to the Vice-Chancellor on 28 October. In January 2023, the Vice-Chancellor will decide on 4–6 profile areas intended for a preliminary notification for Uppsala University, and Uppsala University's complete application is to be submitted in May 2023.