The Graduate School SWEAH gathered at JU – focusing on the future

The Swedish Graduate School on Ageing and Health (SWEAH) held its board meeting at Jönköping University (JU) on 22–23 April. The meeting brought together representatives from the graduate school’s 13 member institutions and had a clear focus: to shape the direction for the next contract period.

SWEAH is a national collaboration coordinated by Lund University, offering interdisciplinary courses and activities for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in the field of ageing and health. Through student days, networking events and conferences, amongst other things, the research school strengthens participants’ academic development and career opportunities.

Strategic work ahead of the new agreement period

A key part of the meeting focused on a new strategic plan. The current plan expires at the turn of the year 2026/2027, and the board is now working on revising the research school’s vision, mission and strategic priorities.

“To begin with, we have carried out an evaluation which shows that we have something really good here; we are producing excellent, high-quality research. We have something we should cherish and which we will, of course, continue to develop,” says Lars Liljedahl, vice-chair of the SWEAH board.

Greater focus on putting research into practice

One area that is being given greater emphasis in the strategic work is the application of research and increased collaboration with the wider community. The aim is for research to be put to practical use to a greater extent and to help address actual needs within healthcare, elderly care and issues affecting older people.

As part of this, SWEAH will, for the first time, also approach local authorities as potential collaboration and funding partners ahead of the next funding period. Additional higher education institutions are also welcome.

– We want to become even better at ensuring that research has an impact in practice. This concerns both how we collaborate with stakeholders outside academia and how we prepare doctoral students to work closely with society’s needs,” says Susanne Iwarsson, coordinator of SWEAH.

A research school with broad collaboration

Since its inception, around 140 doctoral students have been affiliated with SWEAH, of whom around 50 are active today. Participants come from a range of disciplines and universities, creating a broad and dynamic interdisciplinary environment.

For the doctoral students, participation provides an in-depth perspective on ageing and health, which complements the education at the university where the student is enrolled.

The research school is also facing a generational change in leadership, with a new coordinator gradually taking over responsibility.

“It is a very well-run and well-established organisation. Now it’s a matter of taking the next step together and developing SWEAH over the coming contract period,” says incoming coordinator Jimmie Kristensson.