HELLO THERE! Mats Bergman – new dean at Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics.

His own research focuses on the intersection of the market and the state, and he has extensive experience of gender equality work in academia. After 19 years at Södertörn University, Professor Mats Bergman is now returning to his childhood town to head the Umeå School of Business and Economics.

Congratulations on your new position! What made you accept the job offer?

– Thank you! The mission itself is of course very appealing. I have held similar management positions at Södertörn University and have missed the leadership. That said, I’m not sure I would be as interested in the position if it was located at a university in another city. My heart beats extra for Umeå. That’s where I grew up, studied, did my PhD in economics and worked as an associate professor before moving to Stockholm.

Is there any new direction you think Umeå School of Business needs to take?

– I will continue with the same strategy that the school has today, which is broadly about providing first-class education and research, but also about attracting students to the institution and securing funding.

– Interaction with the community is also a bigger part of my job than I am used to. I look forward to that!

Speaking of collaboration, what role do you think Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics has in contributing to regional development in northern Sweden?

– A very central role as the university is hugely important for Umeå and the whole region. Södertörn University is important for Stockholm in a way, but here we also have Stockholm University and other prominent higher education institutions.

– Umeå University has a significant role in attracting people to the city, together with other actors, where the university’s main role is to attract attractive education and outstanding research. Many who study at Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics are likely to become entrepreneurs, so it is important that the city can offer an attractive business climate to make them want to stay.

Today, one third of professors at Swedish universities are women. Having been a gender equality coordinator at Södertörn University for six years, what do you think is the role of universities in addressing gender inequality in research?

– This is a difficult issue and one that I will be working on in Umeå. At the Business School, only a quarter of the professors are women, compared to a third at Umeå University as a whole. Gender inequality in academia is due to several factors, I think. Policies for the promotion of professors matter. It is also important to organize your work in a way that allows you to combine your research career with your life. It should not be the case that women fall behind men in productivity and career when children arrive.

– There is also academic housework (external link) which, according to many studies, puts women in academia at a disadvantage. This is work that has to be done to keep the institution running, but is not recognized as a staffing activity. This can include helping students who are in despair, reading and commenting on other people’s work, or organizing a coffee break. This type of work risks falling more heavily on women and takes time away from the task of research.

Besides working, what are you most looking forward to about being in Umeå again?

– It is a good city for sports activities. I do a lot of road cycling and earlier this year I completed a ‘classic’. The availability of good ski slopes is also greater than in Stockholm. And then there’s the restaurant and cultural life that has expanded since I lived there – it’s exciting to be part of it!

Contact mats.bergman@umu.se