Assessment panel’s task

The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) has been asked by the government on 8 May 2020 to review the World Maritime University’s (WMU) application for degree-awarding powers to issue a master´s degree in the field of Maritime Affairs. UKÄ tasked us with assessing the application.

Assessment panel’s composition

The assessment panel included the following members:

• Professor Karin Andersson, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg (chairperson and subject expert)
• Professor Bjørn Egil Asbjørnslett, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway (subject expert)
• Assistant Professor Alyne E. Delaney, Aalborg University, Denmark (subject expert)
• Professor Johan Schelin, Stockholm university (subject expert)
• Senior lecturer Cecilia Österman, Linnaeus University (subject expert and employer and working life representative)
• Lecturer Magnus Boström, Linnaeus University (doctoral student representative)

Assessment panel’s work

The assessment is based on the requirements laid out in the Higher Education Act

(1992:1434) and the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) and on the basis of the requirements compiled in Guidelines for applications for degree-awarding powers.

Third-cycle qualifications. Assessment material consists of WMU´s application for degree-awarding powers, requested additions and interviews with representatives of the World Maritime University and doctoral students. Our assessment is presented in annex 1. The assessment is summarized in an overall assessment with justification.

The assessment panel’s preliminary report was sent to WMU for review, so the higher education institution was able to point out any factual errors. The responses from the higher education institutions are presented in annex 2. We have reviewed the WMUs’ responses, and in cases in which we assessed them to be relevant, changes were made in the report.

The assessment panel´s recommendation

We propose that UKÄ proposes to the government that the World Maritime University be given permission to issue a master´s degree in the field of Maritime Affairs.

On behalf of the assessment panel

Karin Andersson

Chairperson