Almost two years ago, the University Board decided that KTH would have three campuses instead of five. The relocation of the operations is now complete, and our campuses in Flemingsberg and near Valhallavägen are busier than ever.

There are just over 2,000 more students at KTH Campus and a little over 200 more employees. The campus environments are becoming denser, a little more intense, and I think many people notice that there are more people moving around in the area. In many ways, this is positive, and our campuses are becoming even more vibrant. Of course, it has also been a challenge to create space for all activities, not least classrooms, while we have a record number of students this autumn. In the coming semesters, the number of students will decrease because of the government’s general cuts in education at universities.

We need to review the number of study places for our students and see how we can best utilise both open spaces and seminar rooms, and how we can create and facilitate so-called maker environments. At the same time, investments are being made on our campuses to build attractive environments for students and staff. We hope that in the future, we will find better ways to share our premises with the nearby universities. As before, cooperation with both the universities and the dominant property owner Akademiska Hus is very important.

Collaboration with our strategic partners in both Södertälje and Kista is developing and remains central to both research and skills provision throughout our region. KTH has also initiated an investment in local learning centres in Norrtälje, Nynäshamn and Södertälje. It looks like this will be a really good initiative, with high demand from students for qualifying education.

Even for the educational programmes that have been relocated, the number of applicants has developed positively or even very positively. The relocation has also provided a basis for a more strategic discussion about KTH’s overall educational portfolio, which has led to some programmes being renewed and changed because of the relocation.

It has been a tight schedule with many adjustments and discussions along the way before the moving boxes were packed and the actual move could be carried out. This would not have been possible without the cooperation of all the good forces involved. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at the institutions, departments and university administration divisions who contributed to the completion of the relocation project.

KTH is now taking the next step for the future of education, research and collaboration.