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Datum 2021-11-25
Artikeltyp News

High scores when our research was evaluated

This article was written before our official name change on January 1, 2022 from Mälardalen University (MDH) to Mälardalen University (MDU).

During 2021 an external research evaluation of all research domains at Mälardalen University was carried out. National and international expert panels helped us in these efforts who immersed themselves in various ways in the University's research domains. The goal of the evaluation was to identify the strengths in our research, develop our various research environments and further improve the quality of Mälardalen University's Evaluation for Improved Research Quality 2021.

The research evaluation is called "MER21" which stands for “Mälardalen University's Evaluation for Improved Research Quality 2021” and all research conducted at the University was included in the evaluation. At Mälardalen University there are six different research domains: Future Energy, Health and Welfare, Embedded Systems, Industrial Economics and Management, Innovation and Product Realisation, and Education Sciences and Mathematics. The national and international evaluators were researchers from other university colleges and universities in Sweden, Europe and the rest of the world, who are experts in the research domains.

Three success factors for Mälardalen University

The national and international evaluators highlight the below three success factors for Mälardalen University and our research:

  • The most successful research specialisations have well-developed international networks and there is a high degree of recruitment of professors and doctoral students from different countries.

  • Mälardalen University is very capable when it comes to collaboration with the surrounding society, with companies and organisations. For example, the panel experts highlight the University's long-term collaborative relationships, which are built on mutual trust, as a strength.
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  • Our ability to cooperate between the various research specialisations at Mälardalen University, our welcoming and open atmosphere - and our flexible organisation.


"A remarkable development"

“Mälardalen University has had a remarkable development. After constant growth since it started slightly more than 40 years ago, the University currently has more than 1 000 employees, nearly 20000 students and works with hundreds of external partners. It is obvious that the University’s focus on research and education has been of great importance, not least for the regions of Västmanland and Södermanland with their private and public sectors,” says Bertil Svensson, Chair of the Integrated Systems Panel.

“The University has supported the structural transformation that has taken place among the companies in the region, where they have progressed from a traditional manufacturing industry to applying and developing world-leading technology. Of utmost importance is of course research development at the University. Research is the foundation on which education is based. Excellence in research helps attract the best academics to apply, teach and conduct research at the University and collaborate with business and academic partners regionally, nationally and internationally,” according to Bertil Svensson.


High scores in all our research specialisations:

  • Innovation and Product Realisation (IPR) already has many international collaboration agreements in place in their research areas and are advised to further increase international collaboration in research and continue their collaboration with external parties.

  • Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (MaM) are rated as Excellent for their research quality.

  • Embedded Systems (ES) receives high scores throughout and are also rated as Excellent when it comes to external funding and collaboration.

  • Future Energy Center (FEC) receives high scores throughout, and excels when it comes to research collaborations, well-developed international networks, recruitment of professors and doctoral students from different countries and collaboration with external parties.

  • Health and Welfare (HW) has had a strong development since the last research evaluation done in 2014, where the combination of health and welfare is highlighted as a strength.

  • Industrial Economics and Organisation (IEO) have strengthened their capacity and increased the number of publications, and formed its research thanks to a capable group of researchers.

  • Educational Science (UV) has increased its quality overall since the last research evaluation done in 2014 and receives high scores for its collaboration with the surrounding society.

Provides valuable perspectives in the efforts to strengthen research

Seven years ago, in 2014, the last research evaluation (MER14) was carried out. At that time, very valuable input was provided from which the University benefited greatly in the work on the current Research and Education Strategy. MER21 will have just as great an impact, as both the discussions had with the expert panels and their final report will provide the University with valuable perspectives in the efforts to advance, develop and further strengthen research and education at Mälardalen University. This is important, not least when we will get official university status on 1 January 2022.

“The upcoming university status provides for considerably more research funding, which enables more and in-depth research, more doctoral students and thus a strengthened scientific basis for our courses and study programmes. With university status and larger research grants, Mälardalen University can become a stronger collaborative partner and further contribute to strengthening Sweden’s competitiveness,” says Paul Pettersson, Vice-Chancellor at Mälardalen University.

The final report for MER21

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