SELECTION OF VICE-CHANCELLOR. The University Board decided unanimously, on Tuesday January 10, to recommend Ole Petter Ottersen as new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg. This could be the first time that a larger Swedish university gets a non-Swede as Vice-Chancellor. It is the Swedish government that makes the formal decision. The University Board also decided how the recruitment process to find a new Pro-Vice-Chancellor should proceed.
– It will be inspiring to have a Vice-Chancellor that comes from outside of the University of Gothenburg, and has a thorough experience to run a large, international university, says Chair of the University Board, Cecilia Schelin Seidegård.
With the decision to recommend Ole Petter Ottersen, at the moment Rector at the University of Oslo, as new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg, the University Board listened to the consultative assembly’s proposal. The consultative assembly, with its somewhat 70 members representing the different parts of the University, decided at a meeting on December 15, to propose Ole Petter Ottersen as candidate for Vice-Chancellor. His opponent was Eva Wiberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Lund University. The consultative assembly has an advisory role towards the University Board.
Ole Petter Ottersen is Rector at the University of Oslo since 2009. He was born 1955, a doctor and professor in medicine and gained his doctorate in medicine in 1982. Ole Petter Ottersen has run many large national and international research projects and has also had many international commissions of trust, such as special advisor in different university evaluations.
– I am very honoured. If the Swedish government also recommends me as Vice-Chancellor and we can agree on the conditions, I look forward to continue the development of the University of Gothenburg. I’m particularly impressed by the University’s work with global challenges and most certainly want to continue that work, says Ole Petter Ottersen.
The Swedish Government makes the formal and final decision to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor. The new Vice-Chancellor takes office on July 1st.
