The History of THE UNIVERSITY OF FRONT COVER The University building in the early 1900s.

BACK COVER In the early 1930s, there were 300 students enrolled at Gothen­ burg University College (Göteborgs högskola). Two hundred of them were members of the student union, here gathered in front of the University Main Building in Vasaparken. The union’s inspector Hilding Kjellman, honorary member Johan Vising and the leader of the academic choir Hjalmar Lindroth are shown in the front row.

BELOW The Assembly Hall in the University Main Building, early 1900s.

Production: Information Office 2012 Print: Billes Photo: Göran Olofsson and Johan Wingborg Historic photos: photographers unknown. Editor: Carina Elmäng The information in this text is from the University’s booklet Trädet och kronan (2004) and the book Göteborgs universitets historia I & II by Bo Lindberg and Ingemar Nilsson, among

Reg.nr: S-000256 Reg.nr: 3750M several other sources. All we have to offer is a window that is always open to the rest of the world. This window lets in a draft that seems to benefit the bacteria of freedom and rebellion.

Hjalmar Frisk (1900–84), Vice Chancellor of Gothenburg University 1951–1966, In a speech in connection with the student parliament in Gothenburg 1958

The whole context: ‘Students at Uppsala and will find that their Gothenburg counterparts disappear in the streetscape. Our friends from will, in vain, seek for princesses by blood. All we have to offer is a window that is always open to the rest of the world. This window lets in a draft that seems to benefit the bacteria of freedom and rebellion.’ Crown Prince Gustav, later Gustav V, inaugurating the new building of Gothenburg University College in Vasaparken 18 September 1907. Table of Contents

The History of the ...... 6

A University Emerges...... 8

Faculties Evolve...... 11

‘The Pedagogue’...... 13

From Medicine to Public Health...... 16

Artistic Education ...... 19

Social Sciences...... 22

School of Business, Economics and Law...... 24

Natural Sciences...... 26

The University Library...... 28

The Inauguration in 1954...... 29

The Open University in the Middle of the City...... 30 1848 Gothenburg Craft Association started a school on Östra Hamngatan, 1861 an idea to establish a science library in Gothenburg was acted upon. which later developed into the School of Design and Crafts (HDK).

The History of the University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg is one of the most ­popular universities in , with the highest ­number of applicants per place for many programmes. Besides the attractive downtown location, ­students find the great breadth combined with the highly ­successful focus on in-depth and cutting-edge research and ­education appealing.

6 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1864 the idea of a free academy in Gothenburg was presented for the first 1865 a drawing school with a capacity of 170 students per year time, in an article in the newspaper Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning. was established.

The first building of Gothenburg University College. Built in 1867 and located at the corner of Södra vägen and Parkgatan, it housed the school until 1907. The building was demolished in the 1960s, yet it was considered to be too worn down for lectures to be held there already in the early 1900s.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 7 1890 the first course in Gothenburg for teachers of textile handicraft was held. 1891 the first professors met their students at the beginning of the autumn semester. The Gothenburg city library (the predecessor of the university library) is established, based on the museum library.

A University Emerges

The University of Gothenburg’s cultural heritage about a university college in Gothenburg, the univer- includes thoughts about a free academy in Gothen- sity college that eventually became the University of burg, first presented in May 1864 in an article pub­ Gothenburg. lished in the newspaper Göteborgs Handels- och Gothenburg University College opened in a Sjöfartstidning. large wooden building at the corner of Södra vägen ‘In brief, it can be described as follows: A free and Parkgatan in central Gothenburg. However, the ­academy is an institution for free studies of modern build­ing soon became too small and was in poor con- subjects conducted for the purpose of education dition. A Gothenburg journalist wrote the following and led by cultural figures who shall also perform about a public art lecture: ‘The lecture hall was filled research. The studies shall be free in the sense that to capacity. It did not seem certain that the floor joists they shall not be linked to any academic degrees. would be able to carry the load.’ ­Academic degrees are detrimental to higher studies. The industrialist Oscar Ekman learned about the They force students to study the subjects that a certain situation and felt that something had to be done. He degree mandates, and not those that he is interested­ wanted the university college to be placed in a ‘for in (…) The hunger for knowledge is a strong enough her high purposes worthy building’. In 1902 an archi- driving force for studies.’ tectural contest was announced. The two architects The idea was presented by , Ernst Torulf and Erik Hahr won the assignment, and at the time a well-known cultural figure and one of in September 1907 the last touches were added to the the 19th century liberals who ended up playing a very University building in Vasaparken. The full construc- important role for Gothenburg’s cultural and politi- tion cost of 630 000 SEK was paid for by Ekman alone. cal development. He was a publisher, editor-in-chief The Crown Prince at the time, Gustav (later King for Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning, mem- Gustav V), inaugurated the new building. ber of parliament, member of the Gothenburg city council, and the strongest supporter of the establish­ ­ Important dates ment of Gothenburg University College. It was in Gothenburg University College (1891–1954) consisted the late 1800s that Hedlund, together with the author of a traditional faculty of arts (humanities, social and journalist , initiated the debate ­sciences and partly natural sciences), where the hu-

8 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1893 the first course in Gothenburg for teachers of home economics was held. 1901 the first professorship in political science at Gothenburg University College is established.

Construction workers working on the foundation of the new building, around 1904.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 9 1902 an architectural contest for the construction of the current University 1904 the building on Kristinelundsgatan was erected. This building has been Main Building in Vasaparken was announced. home to what is today the School of Design and Crafts since the beginning.

institutions were incorporated into the University, for ­example the colleges of public administration, teacher training, journalism, music and performing arts. As a result, the University of Gothenburg ­became one of the both largest and broadest higher education institutions in Sweden. In 1998 the University College of Health Sciences became part of the University. The central vocational college had started in Gothenburg in 1961 with programmes preparing for Just having been awarded their doctoral degrees, a group of men pose in front example laboratory assistants. Regular health care of the main building in Vasaparken in 1931. ­assistant programmes emerged in the early 1960s ­and programmes for several other health and care profes- manities dominated strongly. In 1891 there were seven sions were started a few years later. Until then health professors teaching 22 students. care workers had received their training directly at The building in Vasaparken was completed in 1907. the hospitals. The Medical College was established in 1949. Health and caring sciences have belonged to the Gothenburg University College and the Medi- Sahlgrenska Academy since 2001. The IT University cal College merged in 1954, forming the University was started in the same year when Chalmers Univer- of Gothenburg. Before the merger, Gothenburg sity of Technology and the University of Gothenburg University­ College was a foundation financed by pri- joined forces to introduce new and advanced pro- vate, municipal and state funds, whereas the Medical grammes within IT. College was state operated. The University was in­ The oldest part of the University of Gothenburg augurated on Saturday 2 October 1954. is what used to be named Lärarhögskolan, which Several parts of today’s University started as was the college of education. The Board of Teacher ­separate schools and colleges. In 1967 the Faculty of Education (LUN) was established in 2001 to link Odontology was established. education and research in the different teacher train- In 1971 the School of Business, Economics and ing programmes. Law became part of the University. In 1977 Lärarhögskolan became part of the Uni- In connection with the 1977 higher education versity. reform, several previously independent teaching

10 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1905 the union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved. 1907 the university building in Vasaparken opened its doors in September and the world-leading bearing manufacturer SKF was founded in February.

Faculties Evolve

When Gothenburg got its university college in 1891, A separate faculty for the natural sciences was it was a small traditional faculty of arts with seven formed in 1961, and in 1964 all Swedish universities professors and a focus on teacher education. Until established faculties for the social sciences. the 1950s, all departments were housed in the main The remaining faculty for the humanities, the building in Vasaparken. Faculty of Arts, got its present name in 1961 and may Four of the original teachers were language pro- therefore seem rather young. However, content-wise fessors in the Nordic, Germanic, Romanic and classic it is the oldest faculty at the University, and studies in languages. In 1918 there were ten language professors. the humanities clearly dominated well into the 1950s. Nordic languages was a strong subject, and was mandatory for students studying to teach Swedish. The living languages had plenty of students, and an increasing number of women. From 1910 to 1920, wo- men stood for about 30 percent of all examinations in the modern languages. Around 1940, the proportion was 50 percent for English and Romanic languages. History is one of the very old subjects within the humanities and had somewhat of a revival around the turn of the century. At that time there was a con- nection between the academic history at a scientific level and the type of history that was taught in school to strengthen the patriotic consciousness. When the University of Gothenburg was formed in 1954, there were two faculties: a traditional faculty of arts and a faculty of medicine. The faculty of arts had 20 professors and the facul- ty of medicine had 21. The faculty of arts encompas- The departments of the Faculty of Arts were scattered in the area of the Näckrosdam­ sed the humanities as well as the social and natural men pond until the new Humanisten campus was built in 1984–1985. The campus sciences. includes the so-called Språkskrapan building, built in 1966.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 11 1914 World War I started. 1916 a programme in music was started following a private initiative. One of the leaders of the programme was the composer and conductor Wilhelm Stenhammar. The programme was the embryo of the current Academy of Music and Drama.

The first generation of teachers at Gothenburg University College, on the first day of teaching on 18 September 1891. From left, sitting: Ernst Carlsson, Hjalmar Edgren, Axel Kock and Karl Warburg. From left, standing: Johannes Paulson, Rudolf Kjellén, Johan Vising, Vitalis Nordström and Lars Wåhlin.

12 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1918 World War I ends. 1921 Swedish women gained the right to vote and be elected from age 23.

‘The Pedagogue’

Facilities for teacher education were built in Mölndal The construction of the Gamla Latin school in the 1970s. The building, popularly called Pedago- building, designed by the city architect at the time gen, or the Pedagogue, was criticised for being located Hans Jacob Strömberg, was completed in 1862. The too far away and being difficult to get to by public school was the predecessor of Hvitfeldtska gymna- transport. There were several alternative locations for siet. The construction was made possible thanks to a a replacement, and in the end the desire for a true contribution from Margareta Hvitfeldt, who started city university with all facilities placed in the heart of a foundation in the 1600s in memory of her son. The Gothenburg made a location by the Grönsakstorget foundation is still around and aims to ‘contribute to town square most appropriate. the education of disadvantaged youth from the Bo- In 2006 the Faculty of Education moved from huslän province’. Today the renovated building holds Mölndal to central Gothenburg. The new ‘Pedago- parts of the Department of Food and Nutrition, and gue’ consists of three buildings, of which one is brand Sport Science. The department dates back to the late new and located between two renovated and exten- 1800s, as a provider of teacher education in the area of ded buildings that are deeply rooted in the history home economics. The first course in Gothenburg for of Gothenburg. textile craft teachers was given in 1890 and for home The building called Sociala huset, which has a economics teachers in 1893. new extension with a curved and glass-covered façade, A new building between the old ones ties the area was inaugurated in 1855 and started out as the third together and forms a campus in central Gothenburg. Sahlgrenska hospital. The building was originally This has made the University more visible and has supposed to be oval in shape to fit the remains of brought new life to the area. The School of Sport the Carolus Dux bastion from the 1600s, on which Science became part of the Department of Food and it was built. Yet the builders ran out of money half Nutrition, and Sport Science in July 2010. In March way through the project and had to settle for a horse­ 2011 the new Centre for Sport Science opened on shoe-shaped building. The name of the architect was Skånegatan. The new building is primarily a centre Victor von Gegerfelt, city architect in Gothenburg for applied education and research relating to sport, from 1872 to 1896 who is also behind buildings such health and nutrition. Katrinelunds Elitidrottsgymna- as the well-known Feskekyrkan (lit. the fish church) sium and Västsvenska Idrottsförbundet are also invol- in Gothenburg. ved in the centre. The Centre for Sport Science is a meeting place for researchers, educators and students.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 13 1923 the opened in connection with 1926 Volvo was established as a subsidiary to SKF. the Gothenburg Tercentennial Jubilee Exposition.

The campus of the Faculty of Education in June 2006, shortly before the inauguration. Left, Gamla Latin from 1862, now home to parts of the ­Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science. Middle, a brand new building. Right, Sociala huset, from 1855, with its modern glass-covered extension.

14 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1927 the first Volvo rolled out of the plant on 14 April. 1928 Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.

Prince Daniel inaugurated the Centre for Sport Science on 17 March 2011. Students at the Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science do some of their work at the Centre for Sport Science on Skånegatan. A national graduate school in sport science is also linked to the Centre.

New and old meet in the new facilities of the Faculty of Educa­ tion. The teacher education programme is the oldest part of the University. In 2006 the research and teaching moved to reno­ vated facilities in the city centre. The photo shows the gable of Sociala huset, combined with a large glass-covered addition.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 15 1939 World War II began. 1941 the actress Maria Schildknecht started a school that preceded the Academy of Music and Drama. People started using penicillin in the same year.

From Medicine to Public Health

The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Goth- In 2001 the Sahlgrenska Academy was inaugu- enburg was established in 2001, but its history dates rated by its own Nobel Prize winner in medicine back to the 18th century. ­Arvid Carlsson. This marked the beginning of a new The first medical college in Gothenburg was era for the education and research within the health founded in 1949. ­sciences in Gothenburg. The academy is founded on Five years later it merged with Gothenburg Uni- the idea of working to prevent and cure illness in versity College, forming the University of Gothen- present and future generations while focusing on the burg. individual. Concretely this meant that the faculties In 1967 the University of Gothenburg gained a of odontology and health sciences joined forces. The faculty of odontology. A new large building, ‘Koppar- cooperation between the University and the health- borgen’ (lit. the copper fort), was erected on – or was care sector has been and is extensive. A majority of rather partly built into – the Medicinareberget hill. the students at the Academy conduct parts of their In 1983 the Faculty risked being closed down as studies at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and the need for dentists had dwindled. Researchers, stu- many staff members work both in the healthcare dents and staff responded with a successful campaign field, often as doctors, and as researchers/teachers at that included demonstrations and letters to members the Sahlgrenska Academy. of Parliament. On the left side of the road from Linnéplatsen In 1998 the University College of Health Sciences to the Sahlgrenska Hospital is Gothenburg’s former had joined the University of Gothenburg, and the children’s hospital, today the headquarters for educa- faculty of health sciences was established in 2001. tion and research within the health sciences. Intensive preparations in the 1990s led to the for- Sahlgrenska Hospital and the Medicinareberget mation of the Salgrenska Academy as a University hill are divided by a busy road, yet the organisations unit for health sciences. were connected with a glass skywalk in 2004. The It made good sense to name this new part of the University has facilities inside the hospital, but also University after the merchant Niclas Sahlgren, who at Östra Hospital and Mölndal Hospital. bequeathed money to the construction in the 1700s. Doctor, dentists, pharmacists, different types of

16 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1945 World War II ended. 1949 the Medical College was formed.

The close cooperation between the University of Gothenburg and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital is symbolised by the glass skywalks connecting the Medicinareberget hill and the hospital.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 17 1954 Gothenburg University College and the Medical College merged and 1960s regular healthcare assistant programmes were added and several formed the University of Gothenburg, as the third university in Sweden after programmes for other health and care occupations were started towards the Uppsala (1477) and Lund (1666). end of the decade.

nurses, midwives, dieticians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, audiologists, physiotherapists and others receive their training at the Sahlgrenska Aca- demy. The Academy is characterised by a focus on pa- tient-centred research, and has received attention for its large, world-unique population studies that star- ted decades ago and where a large number of links between illness, health and age have been identified over the years.

When the Academy’s Nobel Prize winner in medicine, professor­ emeritus Arvid Carlsson, inaugurated the Sahlgrenska Academy at a ceremony in 2001, it marked the beginning of a new era for education and research within the health sciences in Gothenburg. The Academy enabled the areas of medicine, odontology and health sciences to join forces.

18 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1963 fick Göteborgs universitet sin första kvinnliga professor, Stina Stenhagen, medicinsk kemi.

1963 The Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory was founded by the University 1963 the University of Gothenburg hired its first female professor, of Gothenburg. Stina Stenhagen, in medical chemistry.

Artistic Education

The Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts was three-year programme. In 1964 it became indepen- established in 2000 as the first of its kind in northern dent and was named the National Theatre Academy Europe. As a result, the five creative and artistic sub- in Gothenburg, and was therefore no longer linked to ject areas gained the same status as other areas and the City Theatre. A three-year opera programme was thus became able to design their own research and also started. In 1977 the Academy became a depart- third-cycle studies. The first doctoral students were ment at the University of Gothenburg. The musical enrolled in the same year. theatre programme, currently three years in length, Four of the artistic university colleges had be- started in 1992. come part of the University in 1977 and the one for The list of alumni from the Academy of Music and photography and film was added in 1982. Drama includes the national celebrities , The School of Music can be traced back to 1916, Kent Andersson, Göran Stangertz, , when a private initiative sparked a programme in Samuel Fröler, Viveka Seldahl, Robert Gustavsson, music led by the composer and conductor Wilhelm Regina Lund, Julia Dufvenius and Sara Sommerfeld. Stenhammar, among others. The purpose was to fill the demand for orchestra musicians in Gothenburg. Valand School of Fine Arts Gothenburg Music Conservatory was established in In 1865 a drawing school enrolling 170 students per 1954. It was funded by municipal grants and tuition year opened in Gothenburg. In 1886 the school mo- fees and was a school for church musicians and music ved from the to the com- teachers. In 1971 the School of Music was nationalised. pany AB Valand’s facilities on Vasagatan and changed its name to Valand School of Fine Arts. The Academy of Music and Drama Artists who have served as directors of the School The history of the current Academy of Music and include Carl Larsson, Carl Wilhelmsson and Bruno Drama is rooted in Maria Schildknecht’s Drama Aca- Liljefors. Several of the famous so-called Gothenburg demy, started in 1941. Maria Schildknecht was one of Colourists were linked to the School, and for example the main actresses at the Gothenburg City Theatre Ernst Billgren, Helene Billgren and Lars Lerin have for many years. In 1947 the Academy merged with been enrolled more recently. the Gothenburg City Theatre and formed the Drama In 1996 the School moved to its current location, School of the Gothenburg City Theatre, offering a at the corner of Vasagatan and ,

The History of the University of Gothenburg 19 1964 the social sciences formed their own faculty. 1964 the Handicrafts Association’s school Slöjdföreningens skola is renamed Konstindustriskolan i Göteborg.

Carl Larsson and his assistants painting murals reflecting the history of women in the Nya elementar secondary school for girls, today Victoria­ skolan. Saint Birgitta, Fredrika Bremer and Ellen Key are depicted next to Bronze and age women. This was Larsson’s first public assignment. It was completed in 1890.

Photo: Gothenburg City Museum

20 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1965 Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark put titan screws in a patient 1967 the Faculty of Odontology was formed. for the first time.

in a building designed by Gothenburg architect Victor von Gegerfelt in 1876.

School of Design and Crafts The School of Design and Crafts (HDK) is one of the oldest parts of the University as it can be traced back to 1848 when the Gothenburg Crafts Association started a school on Östra Hamngatan 32. In the first year the students learned linear drawing, freehand drawing, arithmetic, handwriting, Swedish, history and geography. In 1904 the school moved to the cur- rent facilities on Kristinelundsgatan, and has over the years offered training in several branches of applied art – design, handicraft and art industry. In 1964 the school was renamed Konstindustri­ skolan i Göteborg (the art industry school in Gothen­ burg). In 1977 the school became a University of Goth- enburg department. Today HDK includes Steneby- skolan in Dals Långed, which offers training in art The School of Design and Crafts became part of the smithery, furniture design and textile work. University of Gothenburg in 1977.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 21 1971 the School of Business, Economics and Law becomes part 1977 a new higher education reform enables the incorporation of a large of the University. number of independent educational institutions into the University, for example the university colleges for public administration, teacher education, journalism, music and performing arts.

Social Sciences

The social sciences did not form their own faculty The SOM Institute serves as a centre for the survey until 1964. At that point the different subjects were and seminar work carried out jointly by the Depart- scattered across the city and were often housed in of- ment of Journalism, Media and Communication, the fice facilities or even apartment buildings, yet there School of Public Administration and the Centre for was a widespread interest in joint coordination. Public Sector Research (CEFOS) at the University of In 1990 a large share of the Faculty of Social Scienc- Gothenburg. The work is centred around the natio- es moved into new buildings along Sprängkullsgatan. nal survey that covers 9 000 individuals aged 16-85. The parts of the Faculty that moved into the new The survey addresses issues such as politics, society, facilities included the Department of Social Work media habits, public service, the environment, risks, and the School of Public Administration. new media technology and leisure. They both date back to 1944, when the first group Completed in 2007, Campus Linné is the Uni­ of students met at Gothenburg’s institute for social versity’s newest area. It consists of two old, renovated studies, the second of its kind in Sweden. buildings deeply rooted in the history of Gothen­ On 1 June 1963 all institutes of social studies burg, as well as a new building. Gothenburg’s old were nationalised and renamed socialhögskolor, or teachers’ college building offers mainly lecture halls, schools of social studies. In 1977 the school of social group activity rooms and a cafeteria. Many people in studies in Gothenburg became part of the University Gothenburg were born in the city’s old maternity and hence could offer third-cycle studies. ward, built in 1924. Today the building is home to the In 1979 the University of Gothenburg appointed ­Department of Global Studies. Sweden’s first professor in social work, Harald Swed- The brand new building is occupied by the ner. In 1983 the school was split into two departments, Depart­ment of Journalism, Media and Communica- the Department of Social Work and the School of tion (JMG), formed in 1990. The University started Public Administration. offering programmes in media and communication The first professorship in public administration studies in the same year. at the University of Gothenburg was established al- The red brick building located closer to Linné­ ready in 1901. platsen is called Psykologen, or ‘the Psychologist’, and The research at the School has long had a particular is home to the University’s research and education in focus on studies of voters and elections. Interview sur- the field of psychology. veys have been conducted regularly since the 1950s.

22 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1983 The Faculty of Odontology risked being closed down as the need for 1986 the SOM Institute was established, although interview surveys have dentists dwindled. Researchers, students and staff respond with demonstrations been conducted regularly since the 1950s. and letters to members of Parliament.

Campus Linné with the old teachers’ college, today consisting of lecture halls, group activity rooms and a cafeteria for social science students.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 23 1989 Konstindustriskolan is renamed Högskolan för design 1990 a large portion of the Faculty of Social Sciences moves to new facilities och konsthantverk (School of Design and Crafts). along Sprängkullsgatan.

School of Business, Economics and Law

A Government commission in the 1890s found that the university colleges in Stockholm and Gothen- burg should establish professorships for the teach- ing of business studies. In 1901 the Gothenburg University College received a large donation from a wholesale merchant named August Röhss, and the funds were used to establish three professorships – one in economics and sociology, one in geography, commercial geography and ethnography, and one in political science with statistics. Following a num- ber of additional donations, the School of Business, Economics and Law could be inaugurated in 1923. In the 1920s, Gothenburg was Sweden’s com- mercial hub and largest port city, with a flourishing shipbuilding industry. The city’s industrial and trade companies and shipbrokers had expressed a need for internationally oriented higher education for trade and law since the 1880s. The School of Business, Economics and Law was inaugurated on 1 October 1923 by Rector Otto Nordenskjöld. The School relied on large donations, and was developed with German counterparts in mind. The initial nine students studied economics, economic geography, law and commercial techni- ques, as well as German, English, French and Rus- sian. The School became part of the University of Gothenburg in 1971.

24 The History of the University of Gothenburg 1992 the musical theatre programme was established. 1998 the school of health sciences joined the University of Gothenburg.

School of Business, Economics and Law

The Economics Library, which belongs to the Gothenburg University Library, is situated be­ hind the rounded facade facing Vasagatan. The newer part of the School, including the library, was completed in 1995.

In the 1920s, when the School of Business, Economics and Law was founded, Gothenburg was Sweden’s commercial hub and largest port city. The photo shows part of the harbour in 1925.

Photo: Gothenburg City Museum

The History of the University of Gothenburg 25 2000 the University’s Professor Arvid Carlsson won the Nobel Prize in 2001 the IT University was founded in collaboration with Chalmers medicine. The Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts was founded as the ­University of Technology. A faculty of health sciences was established, and first of its kind in Northern Europe. the ­faculties of medicine, odontology and health sciences formed a new ­organization – the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Natural Sciences

The natural sciences have been represented at the Sven Lovén was the name of its first director. The University of Gothenburg from the very beginning, Academy managed Kristineberg in close cooperation and have had their own strong faculty since the 1960s. with the University of Gothenburg for several deca- Gothenburg’s location on the west coast has made des, but turned over the entire responsibility to the the city a natural centre for marine research and University of Gothenburg in January of 2008. education, with elements of chemistry, biology and The Faculty has long conducted successful re- geosciences. search in environmental science. The research spans The University’s already strong marine profile many subjects, but atmospheric science and climate was further strengthened in 2008 when the Swedish research are among the most important. Other suc- Government decided to place the office of the new cessful research projects are focusing on sustainable Swedish Institute for the Marine Environment there. development and climate effects. Two main field stations are available within a The list of strong research areas also includes short distance – at Tjärnö outside Strömstad and functional genomics, which deals with how genetic at Kristineberg in Fiskebäckskil. On 1 Januari 2008, material affects cells and organs in the body, as well Tjärnö and Kristineberg were merged under the new as nanotechnology and aquaculture. name the Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences, Cultural conservation is a subject area that is although the names of Tjärnö and Kristineberg are unique to the University of Gothenburg. It is inter- still used as well. Both field stations have access to disciplinary in nature, with links to the humanities, advanced research vessels. social sciences, art and architecture. The University of Tjärnö Marine Zoological Station was founded Gothenburg and the town of Mariestad have worked in 1963 by the University of Gothenburg. Stockholm together to offer education in landscape conserva- University joined the initiative in 1965 and co-mana- tion, garden design and building craft at Dacapo in ged the station with the University of Gothenburg Mariestad since 2005. until 2007. The Faculty of Science also offers research and Kristineberg Zoological Station was founded in education in for example geology, botany, zoology, 1877 by the Royal of Sciences, and astronomy, mathematics and physics.

The University’s marine field station at Tjärnö near the town of Strömstad.

26 The History of the University of Gothenburg 2005 the University Board decided to merge the faculties of health sciences, 2005 the University of Gothenburg started to offer education in land­ odontology and medicine under the name: the Sahlgrenska Academy. scape conservation, garden design and building craft at Dacapo in the town of Mariestad.

The History of the University of Gothenburg 27 2006 the teacher education programme moved from Mölndal to central 2007 completion of Campus Linné at Linnéplatsen. Gothenburg and Professor Pam Fredman was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg as the first woman ever.

The University Library

It was in 1861 that the idea of a scientific library in library. The library was scientifically oriented and was Gothenburg came true. Sven Adolf Hedlund, well- to serve the needs of the university college while also known cultural figure in the 19th century, was behind being open to the public. However, this city library this initiative as well. The Gothenburg Museum esta- must not be confused with the present-day Gothen- blished in 1861 was also his brainchild. The museum burg City Library, which has roots in the Dicksonska had a library that, with the help of donations, grew to folkbiblioteket (the Dickson public library). offer both reading areas and lending of books. In 1900 a large, beautiful jugend-style library buil- Hedlund had visited London and seen the British ding was built on Haga Kyrkoplan, Vasagatan 2. It Museum, which inspired him both as an industry housed the predecessor of the Gothenburg University museum and with its library. Gothenburg University Library. College was founded in 1891, and so was the Gothen- In 1954 the library moved to new and much lar- burg City Library, which was based on the museum ger facilities at the Näckrosdammen pond area – the current location of the Central Library. In 1961 the library was nationalised and became part of the Uni- versity of Gothenburg, and was therefore renamed the Gothenburg University Library. Today the library building on Vasagatan 2 serves as the University’s Undergraduate and Newspaper Library. The building has been restored according to the original drawings and re-opened in 1995. The University Library has branches at several ­faculties as well.

The first University library, in a jugend building at Haga Kyr­ koplan. The building was used for other purposes for several decades but is today again a branch of the University Library.

28 The History of the University of Gothenburg 2008 the Government decided to place the new Swedish Institute for the 2011 the Centre for Sports Science opened on Skånegatan. Marine Environment at the University of Gothenburg. The University merged the two marine field stations at Tjärnö and Kristineberg and founded the Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences.

The Inauguration in 1954

The University of Gothenburg was inaugurated on Saturday 2 October 1954. King Gustav VI Adolf and the queen attended the ceremony and the king gave a speech. The leading local newspaper Göteborgs- Posten printed the entire speech the following day.

Sweden has not inaugurated a university for over 300 years, and Saturday 2 October 1954 is therefore an im- portant day for all higher education in Sweden – and for Gothenburg in particular.

The national newspaper Svenska Dagbladet wrote, freely translated:

Beads of frost beautified the greenery in the Slottssko- gen park and the sun shone its warmth on those strolling along Kungsportsavenyen avenue. (…) Gumperts book- store on Södra Hamngatan had dedicated two windows King Gustav VI Adolf inaugurated the University of Gothenburg on 2 October 1954. to manifest the grand occasion. One opened its arms to the faculty of arts, full of scholarly literature in the leading cured by real doctors of medicine here in Gothenburg. cultural languages. The window for medicine looked There were flags everywhere, and the Gothenburgers equally impressive. People attempted, with great respect said that never have Swedish flags flown as majestically and concentration, to pronounce difficult terms in Latin. over their city as on this day (…) It was a celebration of One woman of comfortable middle age said: – That’s the blue and yellow cloth. What a joy it was! wonderful. Soon I’ll be able to go to the hospital and be

The History of the University of Gothenburg 29 The Open University in the Middle of the City

When Gothenburg needed a university college, rich dents are engaged in 1,500 different projects across the citizens donated large sums of money. The idea of an world. The cooperation with Asia, Latin America and open university was there from the very beginning. Africa has increased in particular. There is a centre for To benefit society and educate the public was and still research on globalisation and several programmes in remains an important objective for the University of the field of global studies. Gothenburg. Ever since the early days, the University The University of Gothenburg is a city univer- has offered public lectures, which for a long time was sity, and this is not a coincidence; rather, it is part unique among Swedish universities. Today there is of a plan carefully crafted by the University and the an extensive autumn programme, involvement in City of Gothenburg. Many other universities in the the yearly International Science Festival in Gothen- world and in Sweden have separate campuses, with burg and popular-scientific mini-lectures at the Bokia their own student communities. In Gothenburg the bookstore on Kungsportsavenyen. Throughout the students are part of the city, in several small campus year, the artistic programmes arrange performan- areas all located in the heart of the city. ces and exhibitions, and University of Gothenburg Today the University of Gothenburg has 355 780 ­researchers frequently appear as experts in radio, TV, square metres at its disposal, in Gothenburg alone. newspapers and magazines. Yet activities of the University can be observed across Openness to the surrounding society can be ob- the region, especially at the Tjärnö and Kristineberg served in research projects and innovative develop- marine stations, at the Dacapo centre for conserva- ment programmes with businesses and industry, not tion in the town of Mariestad, and at the Steneby craft least the pharmaceutical industry. school in the province of Dalsland. The University of International cooperation is of growing import­ Gothenburg is also closely interlinked with all parts ance for the University. Researchers, teachers and stu- of the Sahlgrenska University Hospital.

30 The History of the University of Gothenburg

The History of the University of Gothenburg 31