Karin Axelsson

Positions

• Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Linköping University 2022-
• Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Linköping University 2018-2021
• Professor in Information Systems, Linköping University, 2009-
• Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Linköping University 2015-2017
• Professor in Information Systems (20% part time position), Örebro University, 2008-10
• Associate Professor (Førsteamanuensis) (20% part time position), University of Bergen, Norway, 2004
• Associate Professor in Information Systems Development, Linköping University, 2003
• Assistant Professor in Information Systems Development, Linköping University, 1999-2003
• PhD Candidate, Department of Information and Computer Science (IDA), Linköping University, 1991-98

Exams

• PhD in Information Systems Development, Linköping University, 1998
• Licentiate of Philosophy in Information Systems Development, Linköping University, 1994
• Bachelor of Science in Systems Analysis, Linköping University, 1991

Professional assignments

• Member of EUA’s Learning & Teaching Steering Committee 2024-
• Chairman of the Vice President Education group in the EUI alliance ECIU University, 2023-
• External reviewer of research quality at University of Skövde, 2023
• Member of the Advisory Council at The County Administrative Board of Östergötland County, 2022-
• Member of the Swedish Higher Education Authority’s expert panel for quality evaluation at Uppsala University, 2020-2021
• Deputy member of the University board at Stockholm School of Economics, 2019-2022
• Chair of pilot group in institutional reviews of the HEIs’ quality assurance processes, Swedish Higher Education Authority, 2017
• Member in the advisory council at The Swedish Tax Agency, 2015-17
• Member in the Regional Board of Ethical Vetting, 2014-17
• Member of vice-chancellor's strategic council for co-operation and external relations, 2012-14
• Deputy head of the Department of Management and Engineering (IEI), Linköping University, 2012-14
• Deputy board member, Department of Management and Engineering (IEI), Linköping University, 2012-14
• Member of the Committee for Quality Development Work, Arts and Sciences' Faculty, Linköping University, 2012-14
• Director of the master program in IT and Management, Linköping University, 2010-14
• Member of IRIS Executive Board, 2009-14
• Member of the Committee for Quality Development Work, Arts and Sciences' Faculty, Linköping University, 2009-11
• Member of Arts and Sciences' Faculty Board, Linköping University, 2009-11
• Scientific leader of System Maintenance Knowledge Initiative, 2008-
• Director of graduate studies, Department of Management and Engineering (IEI), Linköping University, 2007-11
• Board member, Department of Management and Engineering (IEI), Linköping University, 2007-11
• Manager of RBB (Center of crime prevention and crime control - Resurscentrum för Brottsprevention och Brottsbekämpning), Linköping University, 2006-08
• Founder and organiser of the Swedish Research Network in eGovernment, 2006-
• Member of the Committee for Quality Development Work, Arts and Sciences' Faculty, Linköping University, 2006-08
• Deputy member, Arts and Sciences' Faculty Board, Linköping University, 2006-08
• Board member, Department of Information and Computer Science (IDA), Linköping University, 2006
• Reference group member of "Verka jämställt", Linköping University, 2006
• Co-responsible for the research area "E-Government" in VITS research group, 2005-08
• Steering committee member, GrundSIPA, Linköping University, 2003-05
• Board member, CUL (Centre for education and learning), Linköping University, 2003-05
• Deputy board member, Department of Information and Computer Science (IDA), Linköping University, 2003-05
• Coordinator of single-subject courses in informatics/information systems at IDA, Linköping University, 2003-05
• Director of graduate studies, Information Systems Development, Linköping University, 2003-07
• Division board member, Information Systems and Management (ISM) at IDA, Linköping University, 2000-07
• Member of FURISU (council of graduate education in information systems development), 2000-07
• Responsible for the research area "Business Interaction and Electronic Commerce" in VITS research group, 1999-2008
• Member of Centre for Studies of Humans, Technology and Organisation (CMTO), Linköping University, 1996-2004
• Lecturer in undergraduate courses, Linköping University, 1992-
• Member of the research group VITS, Linköping University, 1991-

Public sector has great expectations on information technology (IT) to solve the societal challenges we are facing both in Sweden and globally. E-services and IT-systems should help governments to use resources more effectively.

At the same time citizens and businesses should be offered high service levels and good quality in their meetings with public sector. Public processes should be more transparent and democratic aspects strengthened. Our research focuses challenges in achieving these goals.

IT is often seen as an obvious part of the solution to all sorts of problems. Systems to do things faster, safer and better are constantly being developed. Technology becomes mobile, data sets are large and the possibilities to develop new e-services, apps, and "smart" digital solutions seem endless. The public sector is no exception to this optimistic view on the potential of ICT. In our research, we have spent many years studying how electronic government affects citizens, businesses, public organizations and other stakeholders. To critically review the conditions for change, change processes and results of organizational and IT development are common themes. Research questions about what people, for example, perceive as safe and how they trust e-services for interaction with public organizations contain much more than technology aspects. The context that e-government takes place within affects both conditions and results, in policy and practice. Therefore, contextual factors are often focused in our studies, whether projects are on electronic identification with e-IDs, involvement of citizens and other stakeholders in e-service development or smart cities, smart grids and other kinds of digitalization in homes.