Affiliate competence

What is affiliate competence?

Affiliate competence is a new form of mobility based on individual professional development as a means to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry.

The pilot study, which was conducted from the 2020 autumn semester through the 2021 spring semester, was successful, and LTH has decided to continue the project as an in-depth pilot over a three-year period. The in-depth pilot will enable mobility for people working in industry by helping them access a higher education institution in a formalised yet simple way.

The aim of the initiative is to develop collaboration between individual companies and the University in order to strengthen and deepen relationships from a long-term perspective in anticipation of future joint project applications. Another component involves offering professional development through participation in the University’s research and education activities.

Criteria for affiliation

• No formal employment relationship may exist between the affiliated individual and the higher education institution.
   
• No payment between the parties is allowed.
   
• The affiliated individual is to hold key expertise or expert competence at the company or organisation involved.
   
• There is to be an agreement in place between the company and the department and faculty.
   
• A professional development plan including a specific focus area is to be formulated.
   
• The scope of affiliation is to be at least 20% of a full-time position, and its duration is to be 6-24 months.

Who may apply for affiliation?

During the build-up phase, the initiative will be limited to LTH and companies or organisations that are currently collaborating with LTH. In future, other or new stakeholder groups, companies and organisations will be able to take part in the affiliate competence initiative.

Application process

1. Contact is initiated with the relevant employee and employer, and a meeting is set up.
    
2. Contact is initiated with the relevant department or division, subject director and supervisor, and a meeting is set up.
    
3. A statement from the head of department is required specifying that the affiliate competence in question satisfies the requirements for affiliation and that the department is interested in accepting the participant.
    
4. An agreement is drawn up. The agreement governs the conditions that are to apply between the affiliated individual, the employer and the department. The agreement should also specify that there is no employment relationship between the affiliated individual and the higher education institution.
    
5. A professional development plan is drawn up. A professional development plan based on individual need is to be drawn up for each affiliated individual. The professional development plan is jointly defined by the employee, company and contact person at the higher education institution. In addition to the individual professional development need, it is important to define the mutual benefit for all the involved parties.
    
6. At the same time, a dialogue between the higher education institution and the company is initiated to develop a common strategy regarding desired outcomes and expectations for affiliation-based collaboration (including the period thereafter).
    
7. A final decision on affiliate competence is to be taken on faculty level by the dean of LTH.
    
8. The agreement and decision are registered.

Document templates

Templates for affiliate competence statements and agreements. Currently available in Swedish only.

• Affiliate competence, Template – statement (in Swedish, Word, 106 kB, new tab)
• Affiliate competence, Template – agreement (in Swedish, Word, 111 kB, new tab)