Eva Wiberg, Professor of Italian and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Lund University, served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg from 2017 to 2023.
– I met Eva in early September when she received an honorary distinction from the Japanese Ambassador. She was recognised for her dedicated work with MIRAI, a platform for academic exchange between Japan and Sweden. MIRAI is one of several examples of Eva’s strong commitment to expanding our international collaborations, says Malin Broberg.
Years of change and development
Among other initiatives, Eva Wiberg established an Internationalisation Council in 2019 and the same year the University joined EUTOPIA, a European alliance that today comprises ten universities. Internationalisation was also a key element of the University’s new vision, A University for the World. The preparatory work included open seminars where both staff and students were invited to share their views.
Eva Wiberg’s time as Vice-Chancellor also saw several major construction projects, including Natrium at Medicinareberget, the School of Business, Economics and Law’s new building and the Artistic Faculty’s new premises. The new Faculty of Humanities building, Nya Humanisten, was inaugurated digitally in 2021. That same year, King Carl XVI Gustaf visited Nya Varvet to inaugurate the research vessel Skagerak together with the Vice-Chancellor.
Part of Eva Wiberg’s term as Vice-Chancellor coincided with the covid-19 pandemic, which required an extraordinarily rapid transition to digital operations across the entire University. Several of the changes introduced during that period have since become permanent.
Passionate commitment
Erik Renström, Vice-Chancellor of Lund University, remembers Eva Wiberg’s passionate commitment to Swedish higher education and research:
– Her passing is a great loss, both on a personal level and to Swedish academia as a whole. When I became Vice-Chancellor, Eva was one of the very first people to congratulate me and welcome me into the work of university leadership at the national level. That says a great deal about Eva: she made everyone feel welcome, while also having an exceptional ability to bring people together and make things happen.
Eva Wiberg also introduced two new academic ceremonies: the Jubilee Doctor Ceremony, honouring those who received their doctoral degrees fifty years earlier, and the Diploma Ceremony, recognising students active in student unions and members of doctoral student committees. Student influence and wellbeing were among the issues particularly close to her heart, says Malin Broberg:
– One of her special priorities was to create opportunities for social activities that would strengthen students’ sense of belonging and wellbeing during their studies.
Varm and generous
Eva Wiberg’s time as Vice-Chancellor was characterised by her tireless commitment to ensuring that students’ voices were heard and that they had a genuine influence on university affairs, explains Elina Falsafi Tonekaboni, former Chair of the University of Gothenburg Student Unions.
– Her legacy lives on through scholarships, a meeting room named in her honour, and all the stories and memories we carry with us. To us, Eva will always be like Bamse’s grandmother from the children’s books – a warm and generous presence who shared her special strength-giving honey and empowered generations of students.
Eva Wiberg was 68 years old. The University of Gothenburg will fly its flags at half-mast on Tuesday, the 20th of October.
A book of remembrance is available in the University’s main building in Vasaparken, where staff and students can leave messages in her memory.
By: Eva Lundgren
