Board nominates Johan Schnürer as new vice-chancellor

The University Board has now completed their part of the process of recruiting a new vice-chancellor to take over from Jens Schollin. The final decision is made by the government. When that decision will be made is yet to be announced, but the new vice-chancellor is set to take up their new role on 1 July this year.

Johan Schnürer is professor of microbiology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, in Uppsala. He has had the role of pro-vice-chancellor for collaboration for six years, and prior to that, he spent 14 years as head of department.

"I was approached about the role as vice-chancellor of Örebro University, which was a great honour. Coming from a specialised natural science institution, I find it very exciting to enter a university sphere with such a broad base and a desire to collaborate across disciplines," he says.

Johan Schnürer sees a future for research and education where collaboration in particular will be required to an increasing extent – across the humanities, social sciences, science and technology.

"There is so much we can achieve if we work across boundaries and Örebro University has all the necessary qualities to succeed."

Johan Schnürer himself is this multidisciplinary approach personified:

"I opted for science at school since it would give me so many more options, but in fact, I was just as interested in philosophy, history and English as I was in biology and chemistry."

Grew up in Örebro

His choice to take up microbiology at Uppsala University was perhaps more a matter of chance. But still, not quite:

"I did work experience at the Department of Bacteriology at what was then Örebro Regional Hospital and brought with me a positive experience which affected my whole professional career."

Johan Schnürer came to Örebro as a five year old and after he finished school, he moved to Uppsala. His research at SLU has involved microfungi biology, interactions and biotechnical applications in food-stuffs and fodder.

Johan Schnürers view of cooperation across disciplines as a way forward for research and education makes great demands on leadership.

"Universities are extremely complex organisations and I believe in teamwork and being able to delegate, but also in withdrawing delegations if it is not working. As a vice-chancellor, I may be able to delegate authority, but never really responsibility," he says adding that he believes it is the striving for ever-increasing quality in performance and output that must be the driver of research, education and administration."

Johan Schnürer will be doing weekly commutes to Örebro from his home in Uppsala. His wife Anna is also professor at SLU and of the three children, the two youngest, 19 and 13, are still at home whereas the oldest daughter, aged 21, has moved out.

Text and photo: Maria Elisson
Translation: Charlotta Hambre-Knight