2025-05-222024/25:UbU15 · p.50UbUEducation
Board Matters
Composition of higher-education institutions' governing boards
What's at stake: The composition of the boards affects how much influence academia versus external interests have over the leadership of higher-education institutions, which in turn can affect collegial leadership and priorities in research and education.
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 institutions' governing boards should have a legally regulated composition with fixed shares of external and academic members, or whether the current arrangement without such detailed regulation should remain.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions calling for a new, regulated composition of the institutions' governing boards, pointing out that the state's organisation and governance of research and higher education is already designed to be fit for purpose and adapted to the institutions' needs, without the Riksdag needing to set a detailed board model.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 93 (SD)
The reservation (SD) calls for the institutions' governing boards to consist of one third externally appointed members, one third teachers and researchers from the institution itself and one third teachers and researchers from other institutions, with an academic as chair elected by the board, in order to increase institutional freedom and collegial leadership and give the boards a clearer academic emphasis.
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 93 by SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 89/0/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:1443 by Patrick Reslow et al. (SD) request 10 and 2024/25:3167 by Anders Ådahl et al. (C) request 14.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1443 av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD) yrkande 10 och 2024/25:3167 av Anders Ådahl m.fl. (C) yrkande 14.
Riksdag decision: The Government has presented research policy for 2025–2028. In connection with this, the Government also presented a proposal that would allow the Government to determine rules enabling universities to decide that employment with them can 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 limitation to certain sectors or positions can be removed. The purpose of the legislative amendment is to increase opportunities for knowledge and skills exchange between individual researchers, educational institutions and other sectors of society, and thereby strengthen skills supply and competitiveness. The legislative amendment enters into force on 1 July 2025. Parliament also issued a so-called formal request (tillkännagivande) to the Government regarding the Government's announced inquiry into how appropriate the current organizational form is for state educational institutions. According to Parliament, an inquiry into organizational change should not be conducted. The formal request was issued in connection with a proposal in a supplementary motion. Parliament rejected the remaining motions, of which approximately 140 proposals come from the general motion period 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to see a council for evaluating research quality comprised of external researchers and for societal relevance to be assessed. (SD) — Reservation 93
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 democratic processes to permeate the whole of society, including workplaces, and for those who do the work to have a greater role in decisions.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants democratic processes to permeate the whole of society, including workplaces, and for those who do the work to have a greater role in decisions. A board composition with a strong representation of teachers and researchers and an academic as chair strengthens collegial leadership and the autonomy of educational institutions, which is in line with the plan's requirement for academies without political direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att demokratiska processer genomsyrar hela samhället, även arbetsplatserna, och att de som utför arbetet får en större roll i besluten. En styrelsesammansättning med övervikt för lärare och forskare och en akademiker som ordförande stärker det kollegiala ledarskapet och lärosätenas självständighet, vilket ligger i linje med planens krav på akademier utan politisk styrning.
- democracy in the workplacedecisive»Vi vill gå i riktning mot ett samhälle där demokratiska processer genomsyrar hela samhället, även arbetsplatserna.« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards a society where democratic processes permeate the whole of society, including workplaces.”
- employee influence»för att ge anställda en större roll i hur arbetet organiseras.« (party programme ↗)“to give employees a greater role in how work is organized.”
- independent academies»självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning« (party programme ↗)“independent academies without political direction”
- increased influence for employees»De anställda i välfärden bör också få ett kraftigt utökat inflytande över verksamheterna de arbetar i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Employees in welfare should also get significantly increased influence over the activities they work in.”
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 says nothing about university boards.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about university boards. The nearest principle is the party programme's requirement that political responsibility for tax-financed activities can never be handed over to unelected officials, and that society, business and the trade union organizations should cooperate strategically with the university. A model where academia itself appoints most of the board and the chair weakens external anchoring. The plan therefore argues against the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om lärosätenas styrelser. Närmast liggande princip är partiprogrammets krav att det politiska ansvaret för skattefinansierad verksamhet aldrig kan överlämnas till icke valda ämbetsmän, och att samhället, näringslivet och de fackliga organisationerna ska samverka strategiskt med högskolan. En modell där akademin själv utser större delen av styrelsen och ordföranden försvagar den externa förankringen. Planen talar därför emot motförslagets krav.
- democratic responsibilitydecisive»ansvaret kan aldrig överlämnas till icke valda ämbetsmän.« (party programme ↗)“responsibility can never be handed over to unelected officials.”
- cooperation with society»strategisk samverkan mellan den offentliga sektorn, det privata näringslivet, de fackliga« (party programme ↗)“strategic cooperation between the public sector, private business, the trade unions”
- research freedom»ansvar att garantera forskningens frihet och att trygga grundforskningen.« (party programme ↗)“responsibility to guarantee research freedom and to secure basic research.”
The party programme stipulates that educational institutions' autonomy and independence shall be developed, that academic freedom shall be safeguarded and that the party wants to work for decentralisation and strengthened influence for those working in the sector.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme stipulates that educational institutions' autonomy and independence shall be developed, that academic freedom shall be safeguarded and that the party wants to work for decentralisation and strengthened influence for those working in the sector. A board model with academic weight and collegially elected leadership follows from these principles.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att lärosätenas självständighet och oberoende ska utvecklas, att den akademiska friheten ska värnas och att partiet vill verka för decentralisering och stärkt inflytande för dem som arbetar i verksamheten. En styrelsemodell med akademisk tyngd och kollegialt valt ordförandeskap följer av dessa principer.
- educational autonomydecisive»Lärosätenas självständighet och oberoende ska utvecklas i samspel med en stor offentlig insyn.« (party programme ↗)“Educational institutions' autonomy and independence shall be developed in interaction with broad public transparency.”
- academic freedom»Den akademiska friheten ska värnas och jämställdheten måste förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“Academic freedom shall be safeguarded and equality must be improved.”
- decentralisation and influence»Därför vill vi verka för decentralisering och stärka arbetstagarnas inflytande på sin arbetsplats.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore we want to work for decentralisation and strengthen workers' influence at their workplace.”
- influence for researchers»Lärare och forskare ska ha goda och trygga arbetsvillkor, och studenters och doktoranders inflytande och rättssäkerhet ska säkras.« (party programme ↗)“Teachers and researchers shall have good and secure working conditions, and students' and doctoral students' influence and legal certainty shall be secured.”
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 politics maintain arm's length from academia and the party programme requires that free institutions of higher learning can independently conduct research and education.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that politics maintain arm's length from academia and the party programme requires that free institutions of higher learning can independently conduct research and education. A board composition with academic weight and a chair elected by the board reduces political influence and therefore aligns with this. At the same time, a legally regulated model is itself central control, which makes the support uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att politiken håller armlängds avstånd till akademin och partiprogrammet att fria lärosäten självständigt kan bedriva forskning och utbildning. En styrelsesammansättning med akademisk tyngdpunkt och en ordförande vald av styrelsen minskar det politiska inflytandet och ligger därför i linje med detta. Samtidigt är en lagreglerad modell i sig en central styrning, vilket gör stödet osäkert.
- arm's lengthdecisive»Den akademiska och konstnärliga friheten liksom den fria kulturen är grundbultar i ett vitalt civilsamhälle. Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic and artistic freedom and free culture are cornerstones in a vital civil society. Politics shall contribute to good conditions but maintain arm's length.”
- free institutions of higher learning»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and free institutions of higher learning shall be able to independently conduct high-quality research and education.”
- decisions close to those affected»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize more. People shall get to decide more themselves, and political decisions shall be made close to those affected.”
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 requires that educational institutions' independence be protected and that state educational institutions be given a new form of authority with greater autonomy from government, and the election manifesto wants academic freedom protected in the constitution.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that educational institutions' independence be protected and that state educational institutions be given a new form of authority with greater autonomy from government, and the election manifesto wants academic freedom protected in the constitution. A board model with academic emphasis and a chair elected by the board strengthens precisely that independence. The plan, however, specifies no board composition.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att lärosätenas oberoende värnas och att statliga lärosäten ges en ny myndighetsform med större autonomi från regeringsmakten, och valmanifestet vill grundlagsskydda den akademiska friheten. En styrelsemodell med akademisk tyngdpunkt och en ordförande vald av styrelsen stärker just det oberoendet. Planen anger dock ingen styrelsesammansättning.
- autonomy from governmentdecisive»lärosäten ska ges en ny myndighetsform, som ger större autonomi från regeringsmakten.« (party programme ↗)“educational institutions shall be given a new form of authority that provides greater autonomy from government.”
- academic freedom»Individuell akademisk frihet ska vara en bärande princip för all offentlig verksamhet inom« (party programme ↗)“Individual academic freedom shall be a foundational principle for all public activities within”
- constitutionally protected academic freedom»Den akademiska friheten ska ges skydd i grundlagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic freedom shall be given protection in the constitution.”
- influence within educational institution»Studentinflytandet ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Student influence shall be protected.”
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 institutions of higher learning themselves to have a large degree of self-determination vis-à-vis the state and to design their own activity to a high degree.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants institutions of higher learning themselves to have a large degree of self-determination vis-à-vis the state and to design their own activity to a high degree. A numerically fixed one-third model for boards' composition set by law is state micro-management of precisely what the institution of higher learning according to the subsidiarity principle itself should decide on, and it also reduces the collaboration with the surrounding society that the plan counts as one of higher education's three tasks. The counter-proposal's requirement is therefore rejected, albeit on a derived basis.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att lärosätena själva ska ha ett stort mått av självbestämmande gentemot staten och att de i hög grad utformar sin egen verksamhet. En i lag fastslagen tredjedelsmodell för styrelsernas sammansättning är statlig detaljstyrning av just det som lärosätet enligt subsidiaritetsprincipen själv bör besluta om, och den skär dessutom ned den samverkan med det omgivande samhället som planen räknar som en av högskolans tre uppgifter. Motförslagets krav avvisas därför, om än på härledd grund.
- institutions' self-determinationdecisive»Tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande. Universitet och högskolor ska åtnjuta stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge seeking. Universities and higher education institutions shall enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state.”
- own design of activity»Vidare ska det finnas stora möjligheter för enskilda universitet och högskolor att själva utforma antagningskriterierna till utbildningarna och utbildningarnas utformning.« (party programme ↗)“Furthermore, there shall be great opportunities for individual universities and higher education institutions to themselves design the admission criteria for the programmes and the programmes' design.”
- collaboration with society»att genom forskning generera ny vetenskaplig kunskap samt att samverka med det omgivande samhället.« (party programme ↗)“by generating new scientific knowledge through research and by collaborating with the surrounding society.”
- the subsidiarity principle»Subsidiaritetsprincipen innebär att det som en liten gemenskap själv klarar av att hantera ska den också själv ansvara för och besluta om.« (party programme ↗)“The subsidiarity principle means that what a small community can itself manage should it also itself take responsibility for and decide on.”
The party programme demands strong and independent institutions of higher education, protected from political meddling, and the manifesto wants to safeguard free research from political direction.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme demands strong and independent institutions of higher education, protected from political meddling, and the manifesto wants to safeguard free research from political direction. A board model where academic members dominate and the chair is chosen by the board reduces political influence over higher education institutions. The plan's emphasis on collaboration with industry at the same time argues for external members, which the counter-proposal retains.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver starka och självständiga lärosäten, fredade från politisk klåfingrighet, och manifestet vill värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar. En styrelsemodell där akademiska ledamöter dominerar och ordföranden väljs av styrelsen minskar det politiska inflytandet över lärosätena. Planens betoning av samverkan med näringslivet talar samtidigt för att externa ledamöter behövs, vilket motförslaget behåller.
- independent higher educationdecisive»Sverige ska ha starka och självständiga lärosäten« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have strong and independent institutions of higher education”
- freedom from political control»Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Safeguard free research from political direction”
- institutions as balance of power»Starka självständiga institutioner och en pluralism av samhällssfärer ger en viktig maktbalans i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Strong independent institutions and a plurality of social spheres provide important checks and balances in society.”
- collaboration with industry»Det behövs nära och livskraftiga samarbeten mellan akademi« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for close and vital collaborations between academia”
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 requires that political control of higher education decrease and academic independence increase, and criticizes a politicized appointment authority.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that political control of higher education decrease and academic independence increase, and criticizes a politicized appointment authority. A board model with academic weight and a chair elected by the board follows that principle. The plan says nothing about the composition of institutions' boards, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning minskar och att akademins självständighet ökar, och kritiserar en politiserad utnämningsmakt. En styrelsemodell med akademisk tyngdpunkt och en ordförande vald av styrelsen följer den principen. Planen säger dock inget om lärosätenas styrelsesammansättning, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- reduced political controldecisive»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence increase.”
- academic independence»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guard the independence of higher academia”
- against politicized appointment authority»En politiserad utnämningsmakt tillsammans med en i hög grad informell myndighetsstyrningsmodell försvårar demokratiskt ansvarsutkrävande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A politicized appointment authority together with a largely informal governance model hampers democratic accountability.”
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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