2026-03-252025/26:UbU12 · p.1UbUEducation
Governance of higher education
Governance of higher education institutions
What's at stake: How resources are allocated to institutions affects both the quality of their programmes and the ability to redirect supply toward areas with labour shortages.
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 the Riksdag should direct new requirements to the government on how higher education is governed, including a broad review of the resource-allocation system, or whether institutions' current freedom within given frameworks and ongoing inquiry work are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that institutions have considerable freedom to run their own operations within the framework set by government grants and resource-allocation models, that the right to award degrees follows from statute or specific decisions, that the current arrangement for the term 'university' is well balanced, and that an inquiry is already under way to strengthen support for academic freedom, and therefore finds no reason to propose any action.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation wants the higher education resource-allocation system reviewed with broad cross-party backing, to give institutions stable conditions while allowing programme supply to be redirected more toward shortage occupations; the review should, in the reservation's view, focus on how the system can be designed so that quality, including links to research, is maintained and adequate resources are given to teaching and pedagogical development.
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 1 by S.
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, MModeraterna
Ja 183–95Nej 110–168
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 | Yes 19/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/17/7 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 57/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:207 by Josef Fransson (SD), 2025/26:798 by Mikael Larsson and Stina Larsson (both C), 2025/26:1317 by Petter Löberg and Jessica Rodén (both S), 2025/26:3189 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) demands 22 and 27, and 2025/26:3810 by Anders Ygeman et al. (S) demand 91.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:207 av Josef Fransson (SD), 2025/26:798 av Mikael Larsson och Stina Larsson (båda C), 2025/26:1317 av Petter Löberg och Jessica Rodén (båda S), 2025/26:3189 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkandena 22 och 27 samt 2025/26:3810 av Anders Ygeman m.fl. (S) yrkande 91.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 150 proposals in motions regarding higher education. The motions were submitted during the general motion period 2025 and address, for example, overarching questions about higher education, educational offerings, and certain student issues. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to work already being underway in several of the matters that the proposals address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants an investigation to be conducted with broad parliamentary support on how the higher education resource allocation system can be designed to maintain quality and meet labor market needs. (S) — Reservation 1
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 wants to value universities' independence and financing and make large investments in raised quality throughout the education system.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to value universities' independence and financing and make large investments in raised quality throughout the education system. A broad review of resource allocation that gives institutions of higher education stable conditions and sufficient resources for teaching responds to that. The item about targeting supply to occupations with shortages stretches the demand for independent academies without political steering, but the main content aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering och göra stora investeringar i höjd kvalitet i hela utbildningssystemet. En bred översyn av resurstilldelningen som ger lärosätena stabila förutsättningar och tillräckliga resurser till undervisning svarar mot det. Inslaget om att rikta utbudet mot bristyrken tänjer på kravet på självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning, men huvudinnehållet ligger i linje med planen.
- value higher education financingdecisive»Vänsterpartiet vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering och höja studiestödet så att fler kan välja att vidareutbilda sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to value universities' independence and financing and raise study support so more can choose to further their education.”
- invest in education quality»Vi vill göra stora investeringar i att höja kvaliteten i utbildningssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“We want to make large investments in raising quality in the education system.”
- independent academies»självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning och vill se en« (party programme ↗)“independent academies without political steering and want to see”
- quality and accessibility»Från förskola till universitet och yrkeshögskola behöver kvaliteten och tillgängligheten öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“From preschool to university and vocational higher education quality and accessibility need to increase.”
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 election manifesto establishes that the link between education offered and society's personnel needs shall be strengthened, explicitly also in higher education, and the party programme wants to see better steering of education offer based on labour market needs.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that the link between education offered and society's personnel needs shall be strengthened, explicitly also in higher education, and the party programme wants to see better steering of education offer based on labour market needs. A review of resource allocation that directs supply towards skills-shortage occupations while also protecting quality and research connection fulfils that commitment. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att kopplingen mellan utbildningsutbudet och samhällets personalbehov ska stärkas, uttryckligen också i den högre utbildningen, och partiprogrammet vill se bättre styrning av utbildningsutbudet utifrån arbetsmarknadens behov. En översyn av resurstilldelningen som riktar utbudet mot bristyrken och samtidigt värnar kvalitet och forskningsanknytning fullföljer det åtagandet. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav.
- education steered towards skills-shortage occupationsdecisive»Det ska finns en starkare koppling mellan de utbildningar som erbjuds och de behov av personal som finns i samhället. Det gäller både på gymnasiet och i den högre utbildningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There shall be a stronger link between the education offered and the personnel needs that exist in society. This applies both in secondary school and in higher education.”
- steering according to labour market needs»Bättre styrning av utbildningsutbudet utifrån arbetsmarknadens behov.« (party programme ↗)“Better steering of education supply based on labour market needs.”
- high quality throughout the country»Tillgång till högre utbildning av hög kvalitet i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to higher education of high quality throughout the country.”
- academic freedom»Frihet för akademin och forskningen.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom for academia and research.”
The plan wants to strengthen institutions of higher education's independence, provide more secure employment and better conditions for teachers and students, and at the same time points to the skills gap between education and the labour market.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen institutions of higher education's independence, provide more secure employment and better conditions for teachers and students, and at the same time points to the skills gap between education and the labour market. A broad review of resource allocation that provides stable conditions and simultaneously directs supply towards shortage occupations answers both these commitments. The plan does not take a position on the specific design of the resource allocation system, which is why the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka lärosätenas självständighet, ge tryggare anställningar och bättre villkor för lärare och studenter, och pekar samtidigt på kompetensglappet mellan utbildning och arbetsmarknad. En bred översyn av resurstilldelningen som ger stabila förutsättningar och samtidigt riktar utbudet mot bristyrken svarar mot båda dessa åtaganden. Planen tar inte ställning till just resurstilldelningssystemets utformning, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- strengthened independence and conditionsdecisive»Vi vill stärka lärosätenas självständighet, samtidigt som god offentlig insyn säkerställs, och förbättra villkoren för lärare, forskare, doktorander och studenter.« (party programme ↗)“We want to strengthen institutions of higher education's independence, while ensuring good public scrutiny, and improve conditions for teachers, researchers, doctoral candidates and students.”
- secure employment in academia»Det behövs fler trygga anställningar för forskare och lärare, och studentinflytandet måste stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for more secure employment for researchers and teachers, and student influence must be strengthened.”
- education towards shortage occupations»Vi har ett kompetensglapp - något som visar behovet av utbildning för att matcha efterfrågan med tillgången på arbetskraft.« (party programme ↗)“We have a skills gap - something that demonstrates the need for education to match demand with the supply of labour.”
- higher education throughout the country»Högre utbildning ska vara tillgänglig i alla län och på många orter – inte bara i storstäderna.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education shall be accessible in all counties and in many places – not only in the major cities.”
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 election manifesto requires that the education system to a much greater extent be based on the needs of the labour market and that the skills shortage be solved long-term with better adapted educational opportunities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that the education system to a much greater extent be based on the needs of the labour market and that the skills shortage be solved long-term with better adapted educational opportunities. At the same time, the party programme establishes that independent educational institutions shall independently conduct high-quality research and education. A broad review of resource allocation that provides stable conditions while directing supply towards shortage occupations reconciles these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att utbildningssystemet i betydligt större utsträckning utgår från arbetsmarknadens behov och att kompetensbristen löses långsiktigt med bättre anpassade utbildningsmöjligheter. Samtidigt slår partiprogrammet fast att fria lärosäten självständigt ska bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning. En bred översyn av resurstilldelningen som ger stabila förutsättningar och samtidigt riktar utbudet mot bristyrken förenar dessa åtaganden.
- education towards shortage occupationsdecisive»Utbildningssystemet behöver i betydligt större utsträckning utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The education system needs to a much greater extent be based on the needs of the labour market.”
- solve the skills shortage»krävs bättre utbildningsmöjligheter anpassade efter den enskildes och för arbetsmarknadens förutsättningar och behov« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Better educational opportunities adapted according to the individual and to the labour market's conditions and needs are required”
- free and independent educational institutions»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and independent educational institutions shall independently be able to conduct high-quality research and education.”
- educational institutions as regional driver»viktig motor för regional tillväxt genom sin nära koppling till det omkringliggande näringslivet« (party programme ↗)“Important driver for regional growth through its close connection to the surrounding business community”
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 party programme explicitly wants to change resource allocation so that it is not based on a system where only high throughput is rewarded, but on quality and demand.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly wants to change resource allocation so that it is not based on a system where only high throughput is rewarded, but on quality and demand. The counter-proposal's requirement for a broad review of the resource allocation system with focus on quality, research connection and resources for teaching is thereby in line with the plan. The plan also wants to see complementary vocational training directed at shortage occupations.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill uttryckligen ändra resurstilldelningen så att den inte bygger på ett system där enbart hög genomströmning premieras, utan på kvalitet och efterfrågan. Motförslagets krav på en bred översyn av resurstilldelningssystemet med fokus på kvalitet, forskningsanknytning och resurser till undervisning ligger därmed i linje med planen. Planen vill också se kompletterande yrkesutbildningar riktade mot bristyrken.
- reformed resource allocationdecisive»Resurstilldelningen ska inte bygga på ett system där enbart hög genomströmning premieras.« (party programme ↗)“Resource allocation shall not be based on a system where only high throughput is rewarded.”
- more teacher-led teaching»Vi vill öka den lärarledda undervisningen, skärpa utvärderingen och bygga ut de utbildningar och lärosäten som håller högst kvalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase teacher-led teaching, tighten evaluation and expand the education and institutions that maintain highest quality.”
- research-connected education»All högre utbildning ska vara forskningsanknuten.« (party programme ↗)“All higher education shall be research-connected.”
- education for shortage occupations»kompletterande yrkesutbildningar i bristyrken« (party programme ↗)“complementary vocational training in shortage occupations”
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 all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources and that resources are allocated so that the activity maintains high quality, while education shall give the labor market well-educated workforce.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all subject areas are guaranteed sufficient resources and that resources are allocated so that the activity maintains high quality, while education shall give the labor market well-educated workforce. A parliamentarily anchored review of resource allocation with focus on stable conditions, quality and shortage professions responds to these commitments. The autonomy of higher education institutions sets a limit but does not prevent a review of the state's allocation model.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att alla ämnesområden garanteras tillräckliga resurser och att resurser satsas så att verksamheten håller hög kvalitet, samtidigt som utbildningen ska ge arbetsmarknaden välutbildad arbetskraft. En parlamentariskt förankrad översyn av resurstilldelningen med fokus på stabila villkor, kvalitet och bristyrken svarar mot dessa åtaganden. Lärosätenas självbestämmande sätter en gräns men hindrar inte en översyn av statens tilldelningsmodell.
- resources for all subject areasdecisive»Alla ämnesområden måste garanteras tillräckliga resurser« (party programme ↗)“All subject areas must be guaranteed sufficient resources”
- quality in higher education»resurser satsas för att verksamheten ska hålla hög kvalitet« (party programme ↗)“resources are allocated so that the activity maintains high quality”
- education meets labor market»arbetsmarknaden får tillgång till välutbildad arbetskraft« (party programme ↗)“the labor market gets access to well-educated workforce”
- autonomy of higher education institutions»ska åtnjuta stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten« (party programme ↗)“shall enjoy a large degree of autonomy in relation to the state”
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 election manifesto explicitly commits to working for a resource distribution system for higher education where academic quality, throughput and labor market establishment are rewarded, and to achieving national coordination of education places for better competence supply.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly commits to working for a resource distribution system for higher education where academic quality, throughput and labor market establishment are rewarded, and to achieving national coordination of education places for better competence supply. The counter-proposal's demand for a review of the resource allocation system with a focus on shortage occupations and maintained quality is precisely this. The plan therefore supports the demand in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att arbeta för ett resursfördelningssystem till högskolan där akademisk kvalitet, genomströmning och etablering på arbetsmarknaden premieras, och att få på plats nationell samordning av utbildningsplatser för bättre kompetensförsörjning. Motförslagets krav på en översyn av resurstilldelningssystemet med inriktning mot bristyrken och bibehållen kvalitet är precis detta. Planen stöder därför kravet i sak.
- reformed resource allocation systemdecisive»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 for higher education so that academic quality, throughput and labor market establishment are rewarded to a greater extent”
- supply for shortage occupations»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Achieve national coordination of society's needs for the number of education places to improve competence supply”
- quality guides higher education»Kvalitet och internationell konkurrenskraft ska vara styrande för den högre utbildningen.« (party programme ↗)“Quality and international competitiveness shall guide higher education.”
- academic freedom»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect free research from political bias”
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 election manifesto requires that higher education to a greater extent be adapted to future labor market needs, which is the core of the counter-proposal's requirement that supply be directed toward occupations with shortages.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that higher education to a greater extent be adapted to future labor market needs, which is the core of the counter-proposal's requirement that supply be directed toward occupations with shortages. The requirement for stable conditions and preserved quality is compatible with the plan's desire to preserve the academy's independence. A review of resource allocation does not conflict with the fact that political detailed management should decrease.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att den högre utbildningen i högre grad anpassas efter arbetsmarknadens framtida behov, vilket är kärnan i motförslagets krav på att utbudet riktas mot bristyrken. Kravet på stabila förutsättningar och bevarad kvalitet är förenligt med planens vilja att värna akademins självständighet. En översyn av resurstilldelningen strider inte mot att den politiska detaljstyrningen ska minska.
- education toward labor market needsdecisive»Den högre utbildningen ska i högre grad anpassas efter behoven på en framtida arbetsmarknad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Higher education should to a greater extent be adapted to the needs of a future labor market.”
- needs-driven dimensioning»Utbilda efter de behov som finns på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Educate according to the needs that exist in the labor market”
- decreased political governance»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political governance of higher education should decrease and the academy's independence increase.”
- academic freedom»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guard the higher academy's independence”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UbU12)
- Committee report full text (HD01UbU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1013 — Speciallärarutbildning inom konduktiv pedagogik av Daniel Persson (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1059 — Återinförande av högskoleprovet på Åland av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1067 — Jämlik tandvård och tryggad kompetensförsörjning av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1089 — Mittuniversitetet av Peder Björk m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1210 — Fler och billigare studentbostäder av Adrian Magnusson och Amalia Rud Stenlöf (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1241 — Lärcentrum i hela landet av Lena Hallengren (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1252 — Stärkt kvalitet i högre distansutbildning genom lärcentrum och en nationell strategi av Denis Begic (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1276 — Reformer för ökad tillväxt i Stockholmsregionen av Josefin Malmqvist m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:130 — Praktik på rätt nivå och snabbare validering för invandrade akademiker av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1317 — Högskolan i Borås - Sveriges textila universitet av Petter Löberg och Jessica Rodén (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1507 — Mittuniversitetet av Jörgen Berglund (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1577 — Rätten för partipolitiska studentförbund att få komma in på lärosätena av Jonathan Svensson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1593 — Riktade uppdrag till svenska lärosäten avseende decentraliserade lärmiljöer av Jonathan Svensson (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1594 — Studenters rätt till ledighet för politiska uppdrag av Jonathan Svensson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1595 — Utbildningsutbud som tillgodoser arbetsmarknadens behov av Johan Büser och Amalia Rud Stenlöf (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1605 — Säkrad tillgång till yrkeslärare av Martin Melin (L)
- Motion 2025/26:1818 — Universitet i Dalarna av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1854 — Tillgång till distansstudier vid högre utbildning av Lena Bäckelin och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1858 — Högskolan i Jönköping som universitet av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1893 — Tillträde till universitet och högskolor av Niklas Karlsson och Adrian Magnusson (båda S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament