On January 15, a delegation of staff and students from Umeå Institute of Design received the award Centre of Excellence in Higher Education at the National Agency of Higher Education (Högskoleverket). Head of Department at UID Tapio Alakörkkö, together with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Åsa Bergenheim, received a glass sculpture and diploma from University Chancellor Anders Flodström. Rector Bengt Palmgren held a presentation of UID, in which he highlighted fifteen decisions that, since the founding of UID in 1989, have led to the successful education model that we apply today. Among these are the pedagogical cornerstones of collaborating with industries and design professionals in student projects, and of promoting group processes in learning when students learn as much from each other as from teachers and tutors. The open and creative learning environment at Umeå Insitute of Design has been built together by students, permanent staff and visiting teachers, all sharing a comittment to creating not only an excellent industrial design education but also a collaborative global network.
