2025-05-222024/25:UbU15 · p.6UbUEducation
Specifically regarding partial goals on gender equality
A dedicated research-policy sub-goal on gender equality
What's at stake: If the dedicated sub-goal is removed, specific follow-up on gender equality in research and higher education is reduced, which can affect how quickly remaining differences between women and men are addressed. It affects researchers, institutions and the Swedish Research Council's distribution of research funding.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether a dedicated research-policy sub-goal on increasing gender equality should be retained, or whether gender equality in higher education and research is sufficiently ensured through existing regulation and agency mandates.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that under the Higher Education Act, universities and colleges must always observe and promote gender equality, and that the Swedish Research Council, under its instruction, must integrate a gender-equality perspective and promote equality when distributing research funding. The committee therefore considers the matter already addressed and rejects the motions calling for a continued dedicated sub-goal.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation holds that significant gaps in gender equality in higher education and research remain, and that the research-policy sub-goal on increasing equality should therefore continue, in order to meet societal challenges and promote world-class research.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by S, V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna
Ja 148–143Nej 137–154
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/6 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | No 0/89/0/17 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3309 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) request 3, 2024/25:3310 by Lorena Delgado Varas et al. (V) request 5, 2024/25:3312 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) request 5 and 2024/25:3313 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) request 9.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3309 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 3, 2024/25:3310 av Lorena Delgado Varas m.fl. (V) yrkande 5, 2024/25:3312 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 5 och 2024/25:3313 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 9.
Riksdag decision: The Government has presented its research policy for the years 2025–2028. In connection with this, the Government also presented a proposal which means that the Government shall be able to determine rules so that universities may decide that an employment with them may be combined with employment outside the university. Parliament approved the Government's proposal. Today, combined employment at universities applies only to certain positions, such as specially trained doctors and dentists, and the Government's proposal means that the restriction to certain sectors or positions can be removed. The purpose of the legislative change is to increase the opportunity for exchange of knowledge and competence between individual researchers, higher education institutions and other sectors of society, and thereby strengthen competence supply and competitiveness. The legislative change enters into force on 1 July 2025. Parliament also directed a directive, a so-called tillkännagivande (formal request), to the Government regarding the Government's announced investigation into how appropriate today's authority form is for state-run higher education institutions. According to Parliament, such an investigation into changed organizational form should not be carried out. The formal request came as a result of a proposal in a supplementary motion. Parliament said no to other motions, of which approximately 140 proposals come from the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants a quick investigation of working conditions and labor law for joint employment. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 7
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan is explicitly feminist and demands active work to prevent and hinder discrimination, while commonly owned activities should set a higher standard for among other things gender equality.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is explicitly feminist and demands active work to prevent and hinder discrimination, while commonly owned activities should set a higher standard for among other things gender equality. Retaining a research policy sub-target on increased gender equality is such active work. The plan moreover warns against forces that want to tear up won rights, which speaks against removing an existing sub-target.
Original (Swedish)
Planen är uttryckligen feministisk och kräver aktivt arbete med att förebygga och hindra diskriminering, samtidigt som gemensamt ägda verksamheter ska sätta en högre standard för bland annat jämställdhet. Att behålla ett forskningspolitiskt delmål om ökad jämställdhet är ett sådant aktivt arbete. Planen varnar dessutom för krafter som vill riva upp vunna rättigheter, vilket talar mot att ta bort ett befintligt delmål.
- active work against discriminationdecisive»Det kräver ett aktivt arbete med att förebygga och« (party programme ↗)“It requires active work to prevent and”
- public activities lead the way»högre standard för till exempel arbetsmiljö och jämställdhet.« (party programme ↗)“higher standard for for instance working environment and gender equality.”
- defend won rights»riva upp de rättigheter vi vunnit« (party programme ↗)“tear up the rights we have won”
flags: citat_blockerat
The party programme is explicitly feminist and demands that high standards be set across the entire education sector to break social and gender-based patterns, including the gender-skewed recruitment to doctoral education.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme is explicitly feminist and demands that high standards be set across the entire education sector to break social and gender-based patterns, including the gender-skewed recruitment to doctoral education. A persisting research-policy sub-goal on gender equality is a direct expression of that commitment. The election manifesto elevates gender equality as a core value. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet är uttryckligen feministiskt och kräver att höga krav ställs på hela utbildningssektorn att bryta sociala och könsbundna mönster, inklusive den könsmässigt sneda rekryteringen till forskarutbildningen. Ett kvarvarande forskningspolitiskt delmål om jämställdhet är ett direkt uttryck för det åtagandet. Valmanifestet lyfter jämställdhet som en bärande värdering. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav.
- feminist partydecisive»Med denna grundsyn är socialdemokratin ett feministiskt parti.« (party programme ↗)“With this fundamental view, the Social Democrats are a feminist party.”
- break gender-based patterns»sociala och könsbundna mönstren bryts.« (party programme ↗)“social and gender-based patterns are broken.”
- gender-equal doctoral education»könsmässigt sneda rekryteringen till forskarutbildningen.« (party programme ↗)“gender-skewed recruitment to doctoral education.”
- gender equality as a value»Starka värderingar om jämlikhet, jämställdhet och en respekt mellan människor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strong values of equality, gender equality and respect between people.”
The party programme states that academic freedom shall be cherished and that equality must be improved, and that work on increased equality in research is the result of deliberate political initiatives.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that academic freedom shall be cherished and that equality must be improved, and that work on increased equality in research is the result of deliberate political initiatives. The party wants to work for equality and diversity in all contexts. An outstanding research policy sub-goal on equality follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att den akademiska friheten ska värnas och att jämställdheten måste förbättras, och att arbetet med ökad jämställdhet i forskningen är resultatet av medvetna politiska satsningar. Partiet vill i alla sammanhang verka för jämställdhet och mångfald. Ett kvarvarande forskningspolitiskt delmål om jämställdhet följer av detta.
- equality requires political goalsdecisive»Arbetet med ökad jämställdhet, satsningen på förnybar energi och klimatforskning, och den breddade rekryteringen till forskarutbildningen är resultatet av medvetna politiska satsningar.« (party programme ↗)“Work on increased equality, investment in renewable energy and climate research, and the broadened recruitment to researcher training is the result of deliberate political initiatives.”
- equality in academia»Den akademiska friheten ska värnas och jämställdheten måste förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“Academic freedom shall be cherished and equality must be improved.”
- equality in all contexts»verka för jämställdhet och mångfald« (party programme ↗)“work for equality and diversity”
- broadened recruitment»Vi eftersträvar en bred rekrytering till högre utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“We aspire to broad recruitment to higher education.”
The party programme establishes that the Center Party is a feminist party that breaks existing power structures, and the election manifesto that equality problems cannot continue for another term.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the Center Party is a feminist party that breaks existing power structures, and the election manifesto that equality problems cannot continue for another term. A remaining research policy sub-goal on increased equality is a concrete way to maintain that commitment in higher education. The plan also shows through its research programme on women's diseases that it wants to direct research in an equal direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att Centerpartiet är ett feministiskt parti som bryter rådande maktförhållanden, och valmanifestet att jämställdhetsproblemen inte får fortgå en mandatperiod till. Ett kvarvarande forskningspolitiskt delmål om ökad jämställdhet är ett konkret sätt att hålla fast vid det åtagandet inom högskolan. Planen visar också med sitt forskningsprogram om kvinnosjukdomar att den vill styra forskning i jämställd riktning.
- equality cannot waitdecisive»Vi kan inte låta jämställdhetsproblemen fortgå en mandatperiod till.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We cannot let equality problems continue for another term.”
- feminist foundation»Centerpartiet är ett feministiskt parti, som utmanar och bryter rådande maktförhållanden och kollektiva orättvisor.« (party programme ↗)“The Center Party is a feminist party that challenges and breaks existing power structures and collective injustices.”
- equal Sweden»Vi ska bygga ett jämställt Sverige med möjligheter och rättvisa för alla.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We should build an equal Sweden with opportunities and justice for all.”
- gender equality perspective in research»Vi vill inrätta ett nationellt forskningsprogram om kvinnosjukdomar och stärka den genusmedicinska kompetensen i hela vårdkedjan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to establish a national research programme on women's diseases and strengthen gender medicine expertise throughout the healthcare chain.”
The party programme establishes that gender equality shall permeate activities in both higher education and research, and that a gender equality perspective shall be integrated in all relevant public decisions.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that gender equality shall permeate activities in both higher education and research, and that a gender equality perspective shall be integrated in all relevant public decisions. The plan states that Sweden is not an equal country and that the work must continue. A remaining research policy sub-goal on gender equality is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att jämställdhet mellan könen ska genomsyra verksamheten inom såväl högre utbildning som forskning, och att ett jämställdhetsperspektiv ska integreras i alla relevanta offentliga beslut. Planen konstaterar att Sverige inte är ett jämställt land och att arbetet måste fortsätta. Ett kvarvarande forskningspolitiskt delmål om jämställdhet ligger därför i linje med planen.
- gender equality in researchdecisive»Jämställdhet mellan könen ska genomsyra verksamheten inom såväl högre utbildning« (party programme ↗)“Gender equality shall permeate activities in both higher education”
- gender equality integration»jämställdhetsperspektiv ska integreras i alla relevanta offentliga beslut.« (party programme ↗)“gender equality perspective shall be integrated in all relevant public decisions.”
- remaining gender equality gaps»Sverige är inte ett jämställt land.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden is not an equal country.”
- continued gender equality work»Jämställdheten måste fortsätta gå framåt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Gender equality must continue to advance.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan requires that the gender equality perspective permeates all policy areas and gives higher education an explicit task to create a gender equal society, with even gender distribution at all levels.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the gender equality perspective permeates all policy areas and gives higher education an explicit task to create a gender equal society, with even gender distribution at all levels. A remaining research policy sub-target on gender equality is a direct expression of that commitment. The counter-proposal's demand is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att jämställdhetsperspektivet genomsyrar alla politikområden och ger högskolan en uttalad uppgift i att skapa ett jämställt samhälle, med jämn könsfördelning på alla nivåer. Ett kvarvarande forskningspolitiskt delmål om jämställdhet är ett direkt uttryck för det åtagandet. Motförslagets krav stöds därför av planen.
- gender equality in all policy areasdecisive»Jämställdhetsperspektivet ska genomsyra alla politikområden.« (party programme ↗)“The gender equality perspective shall permeate all policy areas”
- higher education's gender equality task»Högskolan har en viktig uppgift när det gäller att skapa ett jämställt samhälle. Högskolan ska präglas av ett jämställt tänkesätt och en jämställd arbetsmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education has an important task when it comes to creating a gender equal society. Higher education shall be characterized by a gender equal mindset and a gender equal working environment”
- even gender distribution»det angeläget att en jämn könsfördelning eftersträvas på alla dess nivåer.« (party programme ↗)“it is important that an even gender distribution is sought at all its levels”
- gender equality as election promise»JÄMSTÄLLDHET PÅ RIKTIGT« (2022 manifesto ↗)“GENDER EQUALITY FOR REAL”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan commits to protecting free research from political direction, and the party programme establishes that the path to increased gender equality goes via self-determination and empowerment, not via demands for exact or static outcomes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to protecting free research from political direction, and the party programme establishes that the path to increased gender equality goes via self-determination and empowerment, not via demands for exact or static outcomes. A research policy sub-goal on gender equality is precisely such a political steering goal in research financing. The plan does make its own gender equality priorities in research, which qualifies the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar, och partiprogrammet slår fast att vägen till ökad jämställdhet går via självbestämmande och egenmakt, inte via krav på exakta eller statiska utfall. Ett forskningspolitiskt delmål om jämställdhet är just ett sådant politiskt styrmål i forskningsfinansieringen. Planen gör samtidigt egna jämställdhetsprioriteringar i forskningen, vilket kvalificerar slutsatsen.
- research free from political goalsdecisive»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political direction”
- empowerment before outcome targets»Vägen till ökad jämställdhet handlar om att stärka självbestämmandet och möjligheterna till egenmakt.« (party programme ↗)“The path to increased gender equality is about strengthening self-determination and opportunities for empowerment.”
- quality drives distribution»Arbeta för ett resursfördelningssystem till högskolan så att akademisk kvalitet, genomströmning samt etablering på arbetsmarknaden premieras i högre utsträckning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a resource distribution system to higher education so that academic quality, throughput and establishment on the labour market are rewarded to a greater extent”
- research on women's health»Stärka forskningen gällande sjukdomar som drabbar kvinnor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen research on diseases that affect women”
The election manifesto states that true equality is not achieved through political measures designed to create the same outcome between the sexes at group level, but through counteracting what limits the individual.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that true equality is not achieved through political measures designed to create the same outcome between the sexes at group level, but through counteracting what limits the individual. The plan also wants to reduce political control of higher education. A research policy sub-goal of increased equality is precisely such outcome control and is therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att riktig jämställdhet inte nås genom politiska åtgärder som ska skapa samma utfall mellan könen på gruppnivå, utan genom att motverka det som begränsar den enskilde. Planen vill dessutom minska den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning. Ett forskningspolitiskt delmål om ökad jämställdhet är just en sådan utfallsstyrning och avvisas därför.
- no to outcome-driven equalitydecisive»Riktig jämställdhet nås inte genom att vidta politiska åtgärder för att på gruppnivå skapa samma utfall mellan män och kvinnor, utan genom att ta krafttag mot samhällsfenomen som begränsar den enskilde.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“True equality is not achieved by taking political measures to create the same outcome between men and women at group level, but by taking action against social phenomena that limit the individual.”
- reduced political control»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence shall increase.”
- formal equality»Motverka diskriminering och särbehandling p.g.a. kön« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Counteract discrimination and special treatment because of sex”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UbU15)
- Committee report full text (HC01UbU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:10 — Försök inom medicinsk forskning av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1007 — Flytt av Rymdstyrelsen till Västsverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1096 — Stöd till forskningen om traumabehandling för sexualbrottsutsatta av Marléne Lund Kopparklint och Jan Ericson (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1103 — Bättre villkor för den forskande life science-industrin i Sverige av Helena Storckenfeldt och Gustaf Göthberg (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1313 — Minskande av PFAS i vår närmiljö av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1360 — En kvalitativ cancervård i framkant av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1362 — En stärkt psykisk hälsa i hela landet av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1366 — Socialtjänsten av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1369 — Svenskt fiske och vattenbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1372 — Marina miljöer och vattenvård av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1382 — Vattenförsörjning och vattenhantering av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1397 — Djurskydd av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1403 — En human sjukförsäkring med individen i centrum av Clara Aranda m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1412 — Jämställdhet och diskriminering av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1421 — Nationella minoriteter och urfolk i Sverige av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1436 — Rymdstrategi av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1443 — Kvalitet och frihet för en högskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1445 — Forskning i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1451 — Svensk innovationskraft och immaterialrätt av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1452 — Stärkande av life science-sektorn inom näringslivet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament