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by Mats Öström, Tensta
original general and HE-related material by Ulla Rintala, Aalto University

For university-related material see also Sweden from Re.ViCa

For entities in Sweden see Category:Sweden


Experts situated in Sweden


Sweden in a nutshell

(mainly sourced from: Wikipedia)

((imported from Sweden from Re.ViCa))

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_Sweden

Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Area-wise, it is one of the largest countries in Europe. Its population is around 9 million or on average 20 inhabitants per square kilometer. The population is very unevenly distributed: some 84 % live in urban areas, and about one third in the 3 major cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy (parliamentary democracy). It has been a member of the European Union since 1995, but it has not joined the European Monetary Union. The capital and largest city is Stockholm, with a population of around 800,000 and metropolitan area of 2 million. The official language is Swedish.

Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the Öresund Bridge in the south.

Education in Sweden

Source: Skolverket

The Swedish education system consists of pre-school, school and adult education. They are a part of a goal guided system where:

  • parliament and the government sets national goals and guidelines, for example, school laws and curriculum
  • municipalities and other school owners allocates resources and organizes activities based on local conditions so that national goals and requirements can be met
  • schools accordingly choose an approach that suits them.

Skolverket monitors, evaluates and reviews the pre-school, school and adult education. Skolverket also produces curriculum, grading criteria and general guidelines and more.

Costs 2009 (Source: Skolverket)

Total cost billion SEK

  • Pre-school: 50,6
  • Leisure-time center 11,9
  • Compulsory school 77,4
  • Comp. intellectual disabilities 4,3
  • Upper secondary 37,1
  • Upper sec for intellectual disabilities 2,7
  • Upper sec for adults 3,7
  • Swedish for immigrants 1,5

Cost per student

  • Pre-school: 114000
  • Leisure-time center 33900
  • Compulsory school 83000
  • Comp. intellectual disabilities 367400
  • Upper secondary 90400
  • Upper sec for intellectual disabilities 288600
  • Upper sec for adults 44000
  • Swedish for immigrants 35200

Total school budget SEK 189,2 billions (2009) Total children/pupils 1 408 005 (2010-2011) Total number of schools 10 516 (2010-2011)

Schools in Sweden

The Swedish School system in .pdf

Source: The Swedish School system in .pdf

Pre-School

Pre-school is a pedagogical group activity for children aged from 1 year until they start school. Children start pre-school at different ages and attend for varying numbers of hours a week.

The job of the pre-school is to provide a platform for lifelong learning. It is to support families in their responsibility for their children's upbringing, development and growth. It is also to be organised so that it enables parents to work or study.

Pre-school combines child care with pedagogical work in an activity that takes day-long responsibility for the whole child. There is great scope for play and creativity as well as for the child's own exploration. Pre-school is to be a fun, secure, learning experience for all the children who attend.

Pre-schools are open all year round. Daily opening hours are adapted to suit the work or studies of parents and the needs of the children.

Pre-school class

The pre-school class is non-compulsory education designed to stimulate each child's development and learning, and provide a platform for their future schooling.

The pre-school class combines the pedagogical methods of the pre-school with those of compulsory school. An important objective is that the pre-school class, compulsory school and leisure-time centre are to be more closely linked. The activities are to be stimulated by the encounter between differing pedagogical traditions.

Compulsory school

Compulsory school is a nine-year compulsory type of school. It is composed of 9 school years and each school year consists of a fall and spring semester.

There is a possibility to go to Basic Adult education if you missed compulsory school.

Upper secondary school

Upper secondary is free, non-compulsory schooling that young people can choose after completing compulsory school. Upper secondary consists of national programmes, specially designed programmes and individual programmes.

There are a total of 17 national upper secondary programmes. Each programme lasts for 3 years and consists of core subjects, programme-specific subjects, optional courses and project work.

Each national upper secondary programme comprises:

  • Eight core subjects; English, artistic activities, physical education and health, mathematics, natural science, social studies, Swedish or Swedish as a second language, and religious studies.
  • A number of programme-specific subjects which are particular to the selected programme.
  • A special project.
  • Work-place training in the vocationally-oriented programmes.

The various upper secondary programmes can be seen as preparation for further studies, vocationally-oriented, or a combination of the two.

As an adult you can get a degree from the upper secondary school by attening at Adult education.


Further and Higher education

Folk high schools There are 148 folk high schools - independent adult education colleges - in Sweden. Each folk high school decides independently what courses it provides, and freely designs its teaching. This means that courses can be quite different from each other.

There are several types of course: year-long courses, short courses, summer courses or distance courses. Long courses are of the following types:

  1. one General courses, which are an alternative to municipal adult education. They correspond to, and provide the same eligibility as, compulsory comprehensive school or upper secondary school.
  2. Special courses can be oriented towards:
    • specific areas of interest (such as music, art, the environment, international)
    • professions (such as youth recreation leader, treatment assistant, sign language interpreter)
    • groups (e.g. people with various disabilities, immigrants)

Information on the range of courses is available at the folk high schools' joint website administered by the Folk High Schools Information Service at Folkhogskola.nu


Universities in Sweden

SourceSweden ranks highly according to several of the indicators used in the OECD:

  • Funding: Sweden devotes 1.7% of GDP to higher education and research, half of which goes towards research and third cycle (doctoral) programmes.
  • Expansion: Between 1995 and 2005, the number of students in higher education rose by about 50%. In 2010, there were 433,000 students enrolled in first (undergraduate) and second (Master's) cycle programmes.
  • Well-educated population: 30% of the Swedish population between 30 and 64 years has taken a minimum of 120 higher education credits, equivalent to two years of full-time study.
  • Disciplines: Sweden awards a high proportion of qualifications in medicine and health sciences.
  • Third cycle (doctoral) studies: Sweden awards a high number of doctorates: 2.7% in relation to the size of a typical age cohort.

Total costs for higher level of education: 54498201000 SEK (Source: Högskoleverket)

Source: Högskoleverket In Sweden there are 47 universities and colleges who may issue a Swedish degrees.35 of these are public. 26 educational institutions authorized to award degrees at first, second and third levels, the other has only authorized to award degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Moreover, there are five individual trainers who only has a degree in psychotherapy condition (not on map). Map of all universities and colleges Some universities are known as private education, that colleges run by non-state actors, such as the foundations or associations. The government has given them the right to grant degrees under the Swedish degree structure. Some examples are Chalmers University of Technology, Stockholm School of Economics and Jönköping University, all of which have a wide range of training courses and also has the right to award degrees at the doctoral level. Other private education can only give degrees in a particular area, such as Beckman's College of Design and Örebro Theological Seminary.

List of all universities:

  • Karlstads universitet
  • Karolinska institutet
  • Luleå tekniska universitet
  • Lunds universitet
  • Malmö högskola
  • Mittuniversitetet
  • Stockholms universitet
  • Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
  • Umeå universitet
  • Uppsala universitet
  • Örebro universitet


Polytechnics in Sweden

Colleges in Sweden

Source: Högskoleverket In Sweden there are 47 universities and colleges who may issue a Swedish degrees.35 of these are public. 26 educational institutions authorized to award degrees at first, second and third levels, the other has only authorized to award degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Moreover, there are five individual trainers who only has a degree in psychotherapy condition (not on map). Map of all universities and colleges Some universities are known as private education, that colleges run by non-state actors, such as the foundations or associations. The government has given them the right to grant degrees under the Swedish degree structure. Some examples are Chalmers University of Technology, Stockholm School of Economics and Jönköping University, all of which have a wide range of training courses and also has the right to award degrees at the doctoral level. Other private education can only give degrees in a particular area, such as Beckman's College of Design and Örebro Theological Seminary.

  • Beckmans designhögskola
  • Blekinge tekniska högskola
  • Center för Cognitiv Psykoterapi och Utbildning i Göteborg AB
  • Chalmers tekniska högskola
  • Dans- och cirkushögskolan
  • Ericastiftelsen
  • Ersta Sköndal högskola
  • Förbundet S:t Lukas utbildningsinstitut
  • Försvarshögskolan
  • Gammelkroppa skogsskola
  • Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan
  • Handelshögskolan i Stockholm
  • Högskolan Dalarna
  • Högskolan i Borås
  • Högskolan i Gävle
  • Högskolan i Halmstad
  • Högskolan i Jönköping
  • Högskolan i Skövde
  • Högskolan Kristianstad
  • Högskolan på Gotland
  • Högskolan Väst
  • Johannelunds teologiska högskola
  • Konstfack
  • Kungl. Konsthögskolan
  • Kungl. Musikhögskolan i Stockholm
  • Kungl. Tekniska högskolan (KTH)
  • Mälardalens högskola
  • Newmaninstitutet
  • Operahögskolan i Stockholm
  • Röda Korsets högskola
  • Sophiahemmet högskola
  • Stockholms Akademi för Psykoterapiutbildning
  • Stockholms dramatiska högskola
  • Stockholms Musikpedagogiska Institut
  • Svenska Institutet för kognitiv psykoterapi
  • Södertörns högskola
  • Teologiska Högskolan, Stockholm
  • Örebro Teologiska Högskola


Higher Vocational Education (HVE)

Copied from Myndigheten för yrkeshögskolan

HVE is a post-secondary form of education combining theoretical studies with a strong practical approach embedded in the workplace.

The supply of education offered matches the demand for competences in the labour market.

  • Combining theory and practice - workplace training forms an integral part of the programmes.
  • More than 1000 programmes nationwide.
  • The largest number of programmes offered is in the field of business finance and administration, along with sales and manufacturing technology. Other prominent areas include IT, hospitality and tourism, health care and agriculture.
  • Tuition is free of charge and many students are eligible for financial aid from the Swedish National Board for Student Aid (CSN).
  • Completing a programme leads to employment. More than 8 out of 10 are either employed or running their own business within six months of graduation (2010 Follow-up Report).

Occupational Entry Level Training Courses Copied from Myndigheten för yrkeshögskolan

Occupational entry level training courses are single subject courses primarily within the areas of fine arts, crafts and cultural studies.

In total, there are about 300 of these courses offered.

The majority of the providers charge tuition fees and some courses offer eligibility for financial aid. The occupational entry level courses are largely privately run, many of them by foundations.

Courses are offered at upper secondary as well as post-secondary level. While they are not expressively designed to fulfil the formal entry requirements for further studies, many of the more specialised arts courses are university preparatory.


Education reform

A big reform took place in 1992 when free schools i Sweden could be financed by the state and not by donations as earlier. This led to an increase of free schools in Sweden, espcially around the big citiy areas. They haveto follow the national curriculum. In a way to stand out in the competition schools focus on different subjects and/or methods. Some focus on more digital tools in the pedagogy, other give more hours to different subjects.

Sweden just changed the school law effective from 1st July 2011. Theses are the main changes according to Skolverket

  • Pre-school get the status school.
  • The same rules will apply to free school and public schools. It means that free schools, with certain limited exceptions, to follow courses and curricula and to grade.
  • All students have the right to develop as far as possible best of their ability. This also applies to students who easily achieve learning objectives.
  • Today there is one individual program for students who are not qualified to a national upper secondary school programs. This program is replaced with five introduction program.
  • Students must have access to the school doctor, school nurse, psychologist and counselor in the student health and also educational and vocational guidance. All students should have access to school libraries. This also applies to free schools.
  • More decisions today may be appealed. It increases legal certainty for students and guardians. Among other things, decisions on the action programs and decisions on the right to school bus is going to be appealed.
  • Teachers and headmasters general powers are clarified. More disciplinary actions to be used against pupils who disrupt other students' safety and the right to study without being disturbed. Written warnings and temporary suspensions in elementary school are some new measures.
  • The education will be designed so that all students receive a school environment that is characterized by security and the right to study without being disturbed.
  • In rare cases it is allowed to charge optional fees for school trips and the like.
  • Skolinspektionen are given the opportunity to sharpen sanctions against the schools that misbehave.

Swedish official government report suggested in November 2012 changes in Swedish legislation.

A recent report in Sweden may make virtual schooling more available. The basic argument contained in this report is that every child should have an equal right to education. The report suggests that children in community care and children in need of distance education (such as children engaged in elite training) should be able to take part in distance or remote education. The report also suggests that the state make a distinction between distant education and remote education. The former is when education is asynchronous and where students and teachers are remote from one another geographically. Remote education occurs when the teacher and student are only separated geographically.The full report (pdf in Swedish) is available here.

Schools

Pre-schools, compulsory schools and upper secondary schools are affected by the two reforms described above.

Post-secondary

The swedish niversities and colleges has started several virtual courses during the last ten years. Adults have often families and have a hard time move to other towns. The courses and anducation often have a few meetings at the university or college a couple of times during a school year. For example was Karlstads university the first in sweden to start a teacher education programme at distance.

Administration and finance

All schools in Sweden are free except for non Swedish residential students at the universities. The compulsory schools are not allowed to charge the pupils for anything extra and the upper secondary can charge a small fee sometimes, but not on a regular basis. At the universities all material and literature are financed by the student, but there are no fees for studying.

Schools

The schools are financed by the municipalities based on the number of pupils they have. Public and private schools get the same. The municipality gives the money to the schools and they can use them in the way they thinks is the best way to meet the standards from the national government.

Post-secondary

The universities and colleges are financed by the state and based on the number of students during a year.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance is done by Skolinspektionn and The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education

Schools

Skolinspektionen controls that pre-schools, schools and adult education follows the laws and makes sure they maintain good quality. Both on regular basis and when necessary.

Post-secondary

It is the task of Högskoleverket (Swedish National Agency for Higher Education) to review the quality of higher education. This work includes:

  • Evaluating subject areas (main fields of study) and study programmes
  • Granting degree awarding powers

’’’Purpose of quality assurance’’’

  • Individual students have the right to demand that their course or study programme is of a high standard.
  • Employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors have a need for highly trained graduates.
  • The general public is entitled to be assured that high levels of taxation result in high standards.
  • In a global world, Swedish higher education must retain a high standard.

European perspective The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education's quality assurance policy has been developed in accordance with the European Network for Quality Assurance's (ENQA)

Information society

ICT in education initiatives

Virtual initiatives in schools

There are at least 4 virtual schools in Sweden:

Virtual initiatives in post-secondary education

Lessons learnt

General lessons

Notable practices

References


Recent reports (last 8 years)



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For OER policies and projects in Sweden see Sweden/OER

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