2024-05-292023/24:UbU13 · p.3UbUEducation
Expansion and development of vocational higher education
Expansion and regulatory framework for vocational higher education
What's at stake: The outcome affects how quickly vocational higher education can meet the strong demand for vocational training and the skills needs in different parts of the country, and whether providers get the long-term funding certainty they need to plan their operations.
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 state should commit to a large-scale expansion of vocational higher education with more places and more long-term funding, plus simplified rules, or whether the funding increases already under way and an inquiry already launched are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee highlights the importance of vocational higher education and notes that funding for it has already been increased with more places for 2024 and that the government wants to keep raising the number of places, that programmes are already required to be sized to labour market needs in close cooperation with employers, and that a government inquiry into the future shape of vocational higher education - including a joint application system - is now being processed within government, which the committee does not want to pre-empt. On this basis, the motions calling for large-scale expansion and a review of the regulatory framework are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 8 (C)
The dissenters want to expand vocational higher education by at least 20,000 new places and scale up the sector by at least 35 percent over ten years, review the regulatory framework to simplify establishing and running programmes, give programmes more long-term funding instead of today's project grants, strengthen cooperation with industry and apprenticeship training, and carry out a major upgrade with a higher share of fixed funding, arguing that vocational higher education is one of the most successful forms of education but is currently held back by short-term funding.
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 8 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 180–19Ja 151–48
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 18/0/0/6 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/91/15 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/19/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:1509 by Heléne Björklund and Magnus Manhammar (both S), 2023/24:2454 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) amendment 2, 2023/24:2457 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) amendments 6 and 7, and 2023/24:2687 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) amendment 65.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:1509 av Heléne Björklund och Magnus Manhammar (båda S), 2023/24:2454 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 2, 2023/24:2457 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkandena 6 och 7 samt 2023/24:2687 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 65.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to 60 proposals in motions about adult education from the general motions period 2023. The motions deal, for example, with the supply and need for adult education, vocational higher education, validation, quality in municipal adult education (komvux), and education in Swedish for immigrants (sfi). The Riksdag refers, among other things, to current regulations and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen the adult education system through expanded development of vocational training, vocational higher education, and distance education. (C) — Reservation 8
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 election manifesto states that the party wants to invest in the entire education system and that quality and accessibility from preschool to vocational university needs to increase, and that it should become easier to educate oneself after compulsory school regardless of where you live.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that the party wants to invest in the entire education system and that quality and accessibility from preschool to vocational university needs to increase, and that it should become easier to educate oneself after compulsory school regardless of where you live. An expansion of vocational university with more places and long-term funding instead of short-term project grants lies directly in that line. The party programme also wants to make major investments in the education system's quality.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen slår fast att partiet vill satsa på hela utbildningssystemet och att kvaliteten och tillgängligheten från förskola till yrkeshögskola behöver öka, och att det ska bli lättare att utbilda sig efter grundskolan oavsett var man bor. En utbyggnad av yrkeshögskolan med fler platser och långsiktig finansiering i stället för kortsiktiga projektanslag ligger direkt i den linjen. Partiprogrammet vill dessutom göra stora investeringar i utbildningssystemets kvalitet.
- expanded vocational universitydecisive»Från förskola till universitet och yrkeshögskola behöver kvaliteten och tillgängligheten öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“From preschool to university and vocational university, quality and accessibility need to increase.”
- major education investments»Vi vill göra stora investeringar i att höja kvaliteten i utbildningssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“We want to make major investments in raising the quality of the education system.”
- accessible post-secondary education»Det måste bli lättare att utbilda sig efter grundskolan oavsett vem du är, tjockleken på din plånbok eller var i landet du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It must become easier to educate oneself after compulsory school regardless of who you are, the thickness of your wallet or where in the country you live.”
- competence development for the transition»massiva satsningar på omställningsstöd, kompetensutveckling och utbildning i vad hållbar samhällsutveckling innebär« (2022 manifesto ↗)“massive initiatives on transition support, competence development and education in what sustainable societal development means”
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 places state responsibility for competence supply and demands a stronger link between educational supply and society's personnel needs.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto places state responsibility for competence supply and demands a stronger link between educational supply and society's personnel needs. Significant expansion of vocational higher education with long-term financing instead of project grants is a direct means for that. The party programme also gives all adults the right to further and continuing education.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lägger ett statligt ansvar för kompetensförsörjningen och kräver en starkare koppling mellan utbildningsutbudet och samhällets personalbehov. En kraftig utbyggnad av yrkeshögskolan med långsiktig finansiering i stället för projektanslag är ett direkt medel för det. Partiprogrammet ger dessutom alla vuxna rätt till fort- och vidareutbildning.
- state responsibility for competence supplydecisive»Staten har ett ansvar för att säkra kompetensförsörjningen, inte minst i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state has a responsibility to ensure competence supply, not least in welfare.”
- education according to labour market needs»Det ska finns en starkare koppling mellan de utbildningar som erbjuds och de behov av personal som finns i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There should be a stronger link between the education offered and the needs for personnel that exist in society.”
- lifelong learning for all»Alla vuxna, inom alla delar av arbetslivet, ska ha möjlighet till fort- och« (party programme ↗)“All adults, in all parts of working life, should have the opportunity for further and”
- active labour market policy»En aktiv arbetsmarknadspolitik för fler jobb är särskilt viktig i ekonomiskt oroliga tider.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Active labour market policy for more jobs is particularly important in economically turbulent times.”
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 establishes that vocational higher education shall provide qualified education where the need for labour is great and that the green transition places new demands on competence, with future investments in education and skills supply.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that vocational higher education shall provide qualified education where the need for labour is great and that the green transition places new demands on competence, with future investments in education and skills supply. A substantial expansion with more long-term financing instead of short-term project grants lies in line with this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att yrkeshögskolan ska ge kvalificerade utbildningar där behovet av arbetskraft är stort och att den gröna omställningen ställer nya krav på kompetens, med framtidsinvesteringar i utbildning och kompetensförsörjning. En kraftig utbyggnad med mer långsiktig finansiering i stället för kortsiktiga projektanslag ligger i linje med detta.
- the role of vocational higher educationdecisive»Yrkeshögskolan ska ge möjlighet till« (party programme ↗)“Vocational higher education shall provide the opportunity to”
- invest in skills supply»forskning, kompetensförsörjning och kommersialisering av innovationer.« (party programme ↗)“research, skills supply and commercialization of innovations.”
- the transition requires new competence»gröna omställningen, som ställer nya krav på« (party programme ↗)“the green transition, which places new demands on”
- lifelong learning»Vi tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in public education and lifelong learning.”
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 establishes that the education system should to a much greater extent be based on the labour market's needs and that everyone who wants to should be able to study throughout their lives, from vocational adult education and upward.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the education system should to a much greater extent be based on the labour market's needs and that everyone who wants to should be able to study throughout their lives, from vocational adult education and upward. A major expansion of the vocational university with simpler regulations and more long-term financing is a direct application of that commitment. The plan also wants to strengthen apprenticeship education and cooperation with enterprises, which the counter-proposal requests.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att utbildningssystemet i betydligt större utsträckning ska utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov och att alla som vill ska kunna utbilda sig genom hela livet, från yrkesvux och uppåt. En kraftig utbyggnad av yrkeshögskolan med enklare regelverk och mer långsiktig finansiering är en direkt tillämpning av det åtagandet. Planen vill också stärka lärlingsutbildningen och samverkan med företagen, vilket motförslaget efterfrågar.
- education according to labour market needsdecisive»Utbildningssystemet behöver i betydligt större utsträckning utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The education system needs to to a much greater extent be based on the labour market's needs.”
- strengthened apprenticeship education»Gör det enklare att anställa elever i yrkesprogram som lärlingar genom att stärka ersättningen för företagens kostnader förknippade med utbildningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make it easier to employ students in vocational programmes as apprentices by strengthening compensation for companies' costs associated with education.”
- vocational education throughout the chain»Från yrkesvux för den som saknar gymnasieexamen till konkurrenskraftiga universitet och forskning i världsklass.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“From vocational adult education for those without high school diplomas to competitive universities and world-class research.”
- vocational education linked to working life»Lärlings- och yrkesutbildningar kopplade till arbetsmarknadens behov är viktigt.« (party programme ↗)“Apprenticeship and vocational education linked to labour market needs is important.”
The plan explicitly demands expanded vocational higher education with high quality and supplementary vocational education in shortage occupations, and that education that holds the highest quality is expanded.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly demands expanded vocational higher education with high quality and supplementary vocational education in shortage occupations, and that education that holds the highest quality is expanded. The counter-proposal's demands for more places, long-term financing and strengthened cooperation with working life directly answer this. The plan also emphasises that the opportunity to learn a new trade in mid-life must be improved substantially.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen en utbyggd yrkeshögskola med hög kvalitet och kompletterande yrkesutbildningar i bristyrken, samt att de utbildningar som håller högst kvalitet byggs ut. Motförslagets krav på fler platser, långsiktig finansiering och stärkt samverkan med arbetslivet svarar direkt mot detta. Planen betonar också att möjligheten att lära ett nytt yrke mitt i livet måste förbättras kraftigt.
- expanded vocational higher educationdecisive»kompletterande yrkesutbildningar i bristyrken samt en utbyggd yrkeshögskola med hög kvalitet.« (party programme ↗)“supplementary vocational education in shortage occupations and an expanded vocational higher education with high quality.”
- expand quality education»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, sharpen evaluation and expand the education and institutions that hold the highest quality.”
- retraining in mid-life»vidareutbilda sig eller lära sig ett helt nytt yrke mitt i livet måste förbättras kraftigt.« (party programme ↗)“retrain or learn a completely new trade in mid-life must be improved substantially.”
- labour market demands retraining»På en alltmer rörlig och krävande arbetsmarknad ställs krav på vidareutbildning och omskolning i« (party programme ↗)“In an increasingly mobile and demanding labour market, there are demands for further education and retraining in”
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 party programme highlights qualified practical education in higher vocational education as a way to develop practical abilities, wants an established apprenticeship system to exist and that education meets the labour market's changing needs.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme highlights qualified practical education in higher vocational education as a way to develop practical abilities, wants an established apprenticeship system to exist and that education meets the labour market's changing needs. The counter-proposal's requirements for major expansion, simplified regulations and long-term financing follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet lyfter fram kvalificerade praktiska utbildningar på yrkeshögskola som ett sätt att utveckla praktiska förmågor, vill att ett utvecklat lärlingssystem finns och att utbildningen tillgodoser arbetsmarknadens skiftande behov. Motförslagets krav på kraftig utbyggnad, förenklat regelverk och långsiktig finansiering följer av dessa åtaganden.
- qualified vocational educationdecisive»Med kvalificerade praktiska utbildningar på exempelvis yrkeshögskola ökar förutsättningarna för detta.« (party programme ↗)“With qualified practical education at for example higher vocational education, the conditions for this increase.”
- established apprenticeship system»Ett utvecklat lärlingssystem bör finnas« (party programme ↗)“An established apprenticeship system should exist”
- meet labour market needs»tillgodose arbetsmarknadens mångfacetterade och ofta« (party programme ↗)“meet the labour market's multifaceted and often”
- well developed adult education»Det innebär att vuxenutbildningen ska vara väl utbyggd.« (party programme ↗)“This means that adult education shall be well developed.”
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 states that skills supply must improve, wants to quickly introduce more short education programmes and get national coordination of the number of educational places in place.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that skills supply must improve, wants to quickly introduce more short education programmes and get national coordination of the number of educational places in place. A substantial expansion of the university college sector with long-term financing and strengthened cooperation with industry is an implementation of that commitment. The plan simultaneously requires that investments fit within the surplus target, which limits volume.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att kompetensförsörjningen måste bli bättre, vill snabbt införa fler kortare utbildningar och få på plats en nationell samordning av antalet utbildningsplatser. En kraftig utbyggnad av yrkeshögskolan med långsiktig finansiering och stärkt samverkan med näringslivet är en tillämpning av det åtagandet. Planen kräver samtidigt att satsningar ryms inom överskottsmålet, vilket begränsar volymen.
- coordinated sizingdecisive»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Get national coordination of society's needs for the number of educational places in place to improve skills supply”
- more short vocational education programmes»Det finns därför behov av att snarast införa olika kortare utbildningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There is therefore a need to soon introduce various shorter education programmes.”
- better skills supply»Kompetensförsörjningen på svensk arbetsmarknad måste bli bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Skills supply on the Swedish labour market must improve.”
- financed reforms»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new promises and reforms – such as our income tax cuts – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”
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 wants to invest in high-quality, business-oriented education and ensure that everyone gets the foundation for a profession in demand on the labor market.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to invest in high-quality, business-oriented education and ensure that everyone gets the foundation for a profession in demand on the labor market. A major expansion of the vocational college with long-term financing and strengthened cooperation with the business sector is a direct expression of that commitment. The plan also wants to introduce apprenticeships, which the counter-proposal also wants to strengthen.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill satsa på högkvalitativ och näringslivsinriktad utbildning och att alla ska få grunden till ett yrke som efterfrågas på arbetsmarknaden. En kraftig utbyggnad av yrkeshögskolan med långsiktig finansiering och stärkt samverkan med näringslivet är ett direkt uttryck för det åtagandet. Planen vill dessutom införa lärlingsanställningar, vilket motförslaget också vill stärka.
- business-oriented educationdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill satsa på högkvalitativ och näringslivsinriktad utbildning, tillhandahålla en god infrastruktur och motverka arbetslöshet och långvarigt utanförskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to invest in high-quality, business-oriented education, provide good infrastructure and combat unemployment and long-term exclusion”
- profession in demand»Ge alla grunden till ett yrke som efterfrågas på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give everyone the foundation for a profession in demand on the labor market”
- sizing according to needs»Utbilda efter de behov som finns på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Educate according to the needs that exist in the labor market”
- apprenticeships»Införa lärlingsanställningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce apprenticeships”
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 (2023/24:UbU13)
- Committee report full text (HB01UbU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:104 — Adoptionsrelaterade frågor av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:1255 — Vidareutveckling av sfi av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1439 — Valideringsutbildningar för stärkt kompetens inom bristyrken av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1444 — Matrosutbildning för vuxna av Johanna Rantsi (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1509 — Behovet av utbildningsplatser inom yrkeshögskolan i Blekinge av Heléne Björklund och Magnus Manhammar (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1705 — Kompetensförsörjning av arbetskraft vid byggandet av Ostlänken av Johan Andersson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1973 — Arbetsmarknadens utbildningsbehov för landets utveckling av Zara Leghissa m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2020 — Kompetensförsörjning i den gröna industriella omvandlingen av Isak From m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2446 — Politik för det samiska folket av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2451 — Utbildning och forskning för ett hållbart samhälle av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2454 — Utbildning och forskning - för en stark kunskapsnation av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2457 — Livskraft och framtidstro i Sveriges landsbygder av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2458 — En folkrörelse för klimatet av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2489 — Utbildning för livslångt lärande av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2491 — Migration och integration av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2494 — Omläggning av yrkesutbildningen av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2687 — Utgiftsområde 16 Utbildning och universitetsforskning av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2691 — En tydlig väg till integration av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2705 — Ett rikare liv för äldre av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2736 — E-sport och spelande i Sverige av Rickard Nordin (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament