LUCSUS Strategy 2025 - 2027

LUCSUS core values

•    Our environment is Open, Collaborative, and Caring
•    Our perspectives are Bold, Creative, and Critical 
•    We strive to Bridge Boundaries, Illuminate Possibilities, and Catalyse Change
•    We act with Care, Integrity, Hope

Goal 1.1

LUCSUS research is at the forefront of sustainability science, of the highest quality, and generates  novel insights and actionable findings for social change

Strategies

• Develop and support staff to become highly qualified researchers. 
• Secure and foster our interdisciplinary profile and recruitments of lectureships. 
• Support the production of creative, comprehensive, cutting-edge scholarly publications at the forefront of sustainability science.
• Support excellence and training in attracting grants for researchers at all levels through effective use of external and internal resources. 
• Conduct research with respect, care and inclusion, adhering to the highest ethical standards. 
  Cultivate a collaborative and supportive research culture, both within LUCSUS and through meaningful external partnerships. 
• Strengthen LUCSUS’s interdisciplinary profile within the Social Science faculty, while fostering and supporting collaborations across all university faculties and departments.

Goal 1.2 

LUCSUS PhD school trains rigorous, creative, independent and critical researchers in support of social change.

Strategies

• Attract a sustainable number of excellent early-career scholars to our PhD program. 
• Support and equip PhDs with the knowledge, skills, tools and ethical competence to conduct independent, cutting-edge research that addresses critical societal questions. 
• Provide and develop effective mentorship and support for PhD candidates, guiding their career development pathways. 
• Ensure mechanisms that empower PhDs to develop their independence throughout their research process. 
• Secure funding for developing in-house PhD courses to ensure stability of research education in sustainability science. 
• Strengthen collaboration and coordination between projects, supervisors and PhD candidates through formal mechanisms. 
• Train LUCSUS PhD candidates to effectively collaborate and communicate their expertise with a variety of academic and societal stakeholders. 
• Foster collaboration and synergies between our research school and the Agenda 2030 graduate school.

Goal 1.3

LUCSUS research and education is closely integrated.

Strategies

• Systematically integrate LUCSUS research into all teaching levels.
• Encourage transparent opportunities and routines for Master’s students to engage with and contribute to ongoing research at LUCSUS, through project assistantships and thesis projects.
• Equip students with a robust understanding of the research process, including research design, quality, interpretation, and communication to students to enhance their research skills.

Goal 1.4 

LUCSUS research aims to deliver relevant findings that create impact and contribute to social change

Strategies

• Enable co-creation of research projects with a transdisciplinary ambition.
• Develop processes that prioritise impact at every stage of research design
• Make societal relevance a key criteria in recruitment processes.

2. Educating agents for sustainable change

LUCSUS advances interdisciplinary education in sustainability to equip change agents with tools to address and tackle complex sustainability challenges.

Goal 2.1

LUCSUS offers a diverse and relevant interdisciplinary teaching portfolio. 

Strategies

• Provide and develop a variety of timely courses and programmes within LUCSUS, and in collaboration with other departments and faculties 
• Expand our offering of interdisciplinary courses and programmes and continue to develop ourstrong educational profile in sustainability science within the Social Science and other faculties.

Goal 2.2

LUCSUS education is at the forefront of sustainability and environmental studies in content, pedagogy and administration.

Strategies

• Continually develop and refine the content and quality of courses and programmes to address current and future sustainability challenges. 
• Develop and support staff to become highly qualified teachers and facilitators, building and rewarding expertise in teaching and pedagogy. 
• Educate teachers in transformative pedagogical approaches and encourage the use of methods that are suited for sustainability education
• Foster a stimulating learning environment where education is closely integrated with research through ‘research-led’ teaching.  
• Establish, maintain efficient and professional routines for course and student administration.

Goal 2.3

LUCSUS attracts, educates and cultivates highly qualified students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Strategies

• Enhance our marketing strategy and recruitment process to acquire high quality student applications from around the world. 
• Promote diversity in education by actively fostering participation and inclusion. 
• Enable a inclusive study environment that welcomes and supportsa diverse student body.

Goal 2.4

LUCSUS educates highly qualified graduates to be equipped for careers both within and beyond academia.

Strategies

• Teach and equip students with novel and societal relevant knowledge, understanding and skills to tackle sustainability challenges. 
• Develop routines for collaboration and partnership with alumni, other higher education and research institutions, society and industry, nationally and internationally. 
• Develop models for student mobility and work experience. 

3. Impact that propels change

Impact vision: LUCSUS contributes to social change and transformations for sustainability.

Goal 3.1

LUCSUS work supports and contributes to policies and networks that advance sustainable societal transformations, from the local to the global level.

Strategies

• Actively engage with decision-makers to support informed and evidence-based actions. 
• Expand, encourage and facilitate boundary-crossing and interdisciplinary research collaborations and partnerships with external stakeholders, including civil society, government/public sector, academic institutions, and industry. 
• Representation on relevant advisory boards and strategic panels and committees, both within and outside academia, and participation in climate and sustainability meetings targeting policymakers and the science-policy interface. 
• Contribute to scientific assessments and policy documents to inform and guide sustainable practices.

Goal 3.2

LUCSUS enhances individual, organisational, and societal capacities to address  sustainability challenges.

Strategies

• Foster collaborations with partners in civil society, as well the private and public sectors. 
• Provide and develop the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to support action for sustainable development. 
• Offer education and training to build leadership, planning, and implementation skills for driving sustainable transformations.

Goal 3.3

LUCSUS engages with society, to enhance understanding and foster dialogue on sustainability.

Strategies

• Strategically communicate and disseminate our research through collaborations, outreach activities, media and other communication channels to reach a broader audience. 
• Actively participate in media and public discourse to influence and advance societal debates on sustainability issues.

4. LUCSUS is a collaborative educational and research environment that attracts and supports diverse talent

LUCSUS supports personal and professional development and attracts qualified students, researchers and administrative staff from various backgrounds. 

We are committed to diversity, pluralism, transparency and collegiality to create an environment that is supportive, participatory, open, collaborative, and enjoyable. We lead by example and we strive to embody the sustainable change we want to see in the world through our work and practices.

Goal 4.1

LUCSUS provides a safe, healthy, diverse and supportive working environment for staff and students.

Strategies

• Implement a preventative approach in our work environment, adhering to existing laws, policies and guidelines. 
• Cultivate a culture of care and shared responsibility to contribute to a positive and well-functioning work and study environment. 
• Foster a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment. 
• Encourage open, participatory and collaborative practices in both research and education. 
• Implement accessibility policies for enabling a supportive work and study environment.
• Build and nurture ‘constructive hope’ and ‘critical emotional awareness’ in interactions with students and staff.

Goal 4.2 

LUCSUS attracts and recruits talent while supporting professional development.

Strategies

• Implement transparent, merit-based approaches for recruitments and promotions 
• Develop and support career pathways and support merit for professional development within Lund University and beyond. 
• Professionalise and improve routines for recruitment processes to enhance effective recruitment processes.

Goal 4.3

LUCSUS fosters a thriving, productive, and stimulating working environment that embodies the change we want to see in the world.

Strategies

• Develop and implement climate-compatible work policies. 
• Cultivate a culture of care and shared responsibility for contributing to a good work and study environment.