KLOSSnet

In KLOSSnet (Knowledge and Learning About Strategic Collaboration) those responsible for collaboration at management level at Swedish higher education institutions come together to develop the strategic collaboration of higher education institutions. About 40 HEI
:s are members of KLOSSnet. Since its inception in 2017, KTH has been convening for the network and has an office function to support the network.

Within KLOSSnet, Sweden's higher education institutions support each other in the work of designing and implementing new forms of work, tools and models for long-term cooperation, which strengthen research, education and long-term development. The purpose is collegial exchange of experience and joint efforts to develop the strategic cooperation of the higher education institutions.

KLOSSnet's meetings

The network gathers twice a year in all-day meetings, hosting of the meetings rotates between the different universities. KTH is the convenor for the network.

At KLOSSnet's meetings, experiences are shared regarding positive and challenging factors for cooperation within various themes. KLOSSnet's meetings usually consist of three parts:

1. Study visits the day before, often at various types of collaboration arenas and strategic initiatives

2. Dinner and informal meeting the night before

3. All-day meeting on prioritized issues/themes, often with guest appearances by actors regarding their views on cooperation (e.g. Ministry of Education, Ministry of Business, UKÄ, Sweden's united student unions, Sweden's Municipalities and Regions (SKR), industry organizations, etc.)

Some examples of themes:

• Driving forces and incentives for cooperation

• Systematic working methods for collaboration that strengthen education and research

• Method development and steering mechanisms for collaboration

• Support to stabilize and anchor collaboration issues at management level

Here you can read more about the KLOSSnet meetings that have been held, as well as agendas for each meeting.

KLOSSnet's steering group

There is a steering group for planning KLOSSnet's meetings, continuity and preparation of priority issues. Currently, the steering group consists of

• Ann-Charlotte Larsson, Vice Chancellor Linnaeus University (convener)

• Dieter Müller, Vice Chancellor Umeå University

• Helena Jerregård, vice chancellor Mälardalen University

• Peter Dobers, chancellor's council collaboration, Södertörn University

• Margareta Friman, vice chancellor Karlstad University

• Lars Bengtsson, vice chancellor Gävle University

• Johan Blaus, KTH, coordinator for the steering group and KLOSSnet as a whole

Focus area collaboration merits

A recurring theme for KLOSSnet over the years has been the merit value of collaboration. Due to this, since 2022 there is a working group around this theme, during 2024-2025 the working group runs a development project called SWE-CAM (The Swedish Career Assessment Matrix). Vinnova supports this project.

The overarching goal of the SWE-CAM project is to contribute to creating a broader and deeper national understanding of merit criteria linked to collaboration. In addition, the project will also contribute to a coherent structure for how Swedish higher education institutions can integrate merit criteria in their further development of merit systems. The basis of the project is that the national management network KLOSSnet actively uses results of the national mapping of status and ambitions regarding collaboration skills as a merit from UKÄ's thematic evaluation of collaboration together with international initiatives to strengthen the integration of collaboration merits in merit systems and in its operations in Swedish HEI:s. Applicable parts of results from the joint university development projects MerSam and UtVind are also further developed in the current project. Focus areas for the project:

• In-depth dialogue with national and international stakeholders.

• Method development around collaboration merits.

• Strengthened learning around collaboration merits through pilot projects.

SWE-CAM includes the following universities with pilot projects: Mälardalen University, Linköping University, Södertörn University, Uppsala University, Blekinge University of Technology

Contact persons SWE-CAM:

Helena Jerregård, Mälardalen University

Per-Olof Brehmer, Linköping University

Peter Dobers, Södertörn University

Johan Tysk, Uppsala University

Åse Nygren, Blekinge Institute of Technology

Johan Blaus, KTH, project manager

Contact

If you want to know more about KLOSSnet, contact Johan Blaus, coordinator for the steering group and KLOSSnet as a whole