2024-04-242023/24:UbU14 · p.6UbUEducation
Universities and colleges' tasks
Higher education institutions' remit on lifelong learning, retraining, and regional development
What's at stake: The flexibility and adaptation of course offerings affects the ability of working professionals to retrain and of regions to keep education close to students; without targeted resources and clearer requirements, critics argue, the offering risks failing to meet demand generated by the retraining study grant.
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 government should give higher education institutions clearer directives and targeted resources to adapt their course offerings to the retraining study grant and regional demand, or whether the current remit and ongoing work are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that under the Higher Education Act and current appropriation directions, institutions are already required to promote lifelong learning and sustainable development and to report on how their course offerings are developing for retraining, that special education initiatives for working professionals have already been decided, and that the same applies to institutions' role in regional development and learning centres, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S)
The reservation holds that the course offering needs to become more flexible, with more short courses and part-time courses and more open access to courses that currently come late in longer programmes, for the retraining study grant to have its full effect; the government should direct and resource institutions to develop and offer such courses to meet demand from working professionals.
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 6 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: KDKristdemokraterna, MModeraterna
Ja 176–93Nej 100–169
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 | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| C | No | Yes 22/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:1359 by Lars Isacsson et al. (S) demands 1-3, 2023/24:2451 by Camilla Hansén et al. (MP) demand 45 and 2023/24:2687 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) demand 73.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:1359 av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S) yrkandena 1-3, 2023/24:2451 av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 45 och 2023/24:2687 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 73.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 130 proposals in motions about higher education from the general motion period 2023. The motions concern, for example, academic freedom, accessibility, and the sizing of educational programmes. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to current regulations and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to protect academic freedom and not unilaterally shorten the term of office for university boards. (S) — Reservation 6
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 demands massive investments in transition support and skills development for working professionals and states that education takes place throughout life.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands massive investments in transition support and skills development for working professionals and states that education takes place throughout life. A more flexible range of educational offerings with short courses, part-time courses and more open access is a concrete way to make lifelong learning accessible. The plan also wants to see more places throughout the education system. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver massiva satsningar på omställningsstöd och kompetensutveckling för yrkesverksamma och slår fast att bildning sker genom hela livet. Ett mer flexibelt utbildningsutbud med korta kurser, deltidskurser och öppnare tillträde är ett konkret sätt att göra det livslånga lärandet tillgängligt. Planen vill också se fler platser i hela utbildningssystemet. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- transition support and skills developmentdecisive»men för att kunna hantera de nya gröna jobben behövs massiva satsningar på omställningsstöd, kompetensutveckling och utbildning i vad hållbar samhällsutveckling innebär« (2022 manifesto ↗)“but to handle the new green jobs, massive investments are needed in transition support, skills development and education in what sustainable societal development means”
- further education in adulthood»Möjligheten att i vuxen ålder kunna vidareutbilda eller omskola sig har stor betydelse både för den enskilda och för samhället i stort.« (party programme ↗)“The opportunity to retrain or reskill as an adult is of great importance both for the individual and for society as a whole.”
- lifelong learning»Bildning sker genom hela livet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Education takes place throughout life.”
- more educational places»Vänsterpartiet vill se en utökning av antalet platser inom såväl grundläggande och gymnasial vuxenutbildning, som folkhögskola, högskola och yrkeshögskola.« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party wants to see an expansion of the number of places within both basic and upper secondary adult education, folk high school, university and vocational college.”
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 programme states that all adults throughout working life shall have the opportunity for continuing and further education and that the education system must adapt to the fact that learning is a lifelong process.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The programme states that all adults throughout working life shall have the opportunity for continuing and further education and that the education system must adapt to the fact that learning is a lifelong process. A more flexible supply with short courses, part-time courses and more open access for working professionals is the practical meaning of this. The election manifesto additionally requires a stronger link between education supply and society's skills needs.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet slår fast att alla vuxna i hela arbetslivet ska ha möjlighet till fort- och vidareutbildning och att utbildningssystemet måste anpassas till att lärandet är en livslång process. Ett flexiblare utbud med korta kurser, deltidskurser och öppnare tillträde för yrkesverksamma är den praktiska innebörden av detta. Valmanifestet kräver dessutom en starkare koppling mellan utbildningsutbudet och samhällets kompetensbehov.
- right to further educationdecisive»Alla vuxna, inom alla delar av arbetslivet, ska ha möjlighet till fort- och« (party programme ↗)“All adults, within all sectors of working life, shall have the opportunity for continuing and”
- lifelong learning»Lärandet blir en livslång process, där perioder av yrkesarbete växlar med« (party programme ↗)“Learning becomes a lifelong process, where periods of professional work alternate with”
- education to match needs»Det ska finns en starkare koppling mellan de utbildningar som erbjuds och de behov av personal som finns i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There shall be a stronger link between the education offered and the need for personnel that exists in society.”
- adapt system to transition»Utbildningssektorn och studiefinansieringssystemet måste avpassas för« (party programme ↗)“The education sector and study finance system must be adapted to”
The party programme states that Sweden shall be a country where everyone has the opportunity for lifelong learning and that general education and lifelong learning are fundamental.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that Sweden shall be a country where everyone has the opportunity for lifelong learning and that general education and lifelong learning are fundamental. Connections between working life and higher education shall be strong, and regulations shall be designed to make it easier for students to complete their studies. A more flexible offering with short courses for working professionals follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att Sverige ska vara ett land där alla har möjlighet till livslångt lärande och att folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet är bärande. Banden mellan arbetslivet och högskolorna ska vara starka, och regelverken ska utformas så att de underlättar för studenter att fullfölja sina studier. Ett mer flexibelt utbud med korta kurser för yrkesverksamma följer av dessa åtaganden.
- lifelong learning for alldecisive»Sverige ska vara ett land där alla har möjlighet till« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a country where everyone has the opportunity for”
- general education and lifelong learning»Vi tror på folkbildningen och det livslånga lärandet.« (party programme ↗)“We believe in general education and lifelong learning.”
- strong connections to working life»arbetslivet och högskolorna ska vara starka.« (party programme ↗)“working life and higher education shall be strong.”
- regulations that facilitate studies»landet. Regelverken ska utformas så att de underlättar för studenter att fullfölja sina studier. Bland« (party programme ↗)“country. Regulations shall be designed to make it easier for students to complete their studies. Among”
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 everyone who wants to shall be able to educate themselves throughout life, that support for transition and further education must be improved and that the education system to a much greater extent shall be based on labour market needs.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that everyone who wants to shall be able to educate themselves throughout life, that support for transition and further education must be improved and that the education system to a much greater extent shall be based on labour market needs. More short courses and part-time courses with more open access for working professionals is a direct application. However, targeted assignments to educational institutions border on the plan's requirement for educational institutions' own freedom.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla som vill ska kunna utbilda sig genom hela livet, att stödet vid omställning och vidareutbildning måste bli bättre och att utbildningssystemet i betydligt större utsträckning ska utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov. Fler korta kurser och deltidskurser med öppnare tillträde för yrkesverksamma är en direkt tillämpning. Riktade uppdrag till lärosätena tangerar dock planens krav på lärosätenas egen frihet.
- lifelong learningdecisive»Alla som vill ska ha möjlighet att utbilda sig genom hela livet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who wants to shall have the opportunity to educate themselves throughout life.”
- better transition support»Stödet vid omställning och vidareutbildning måste bli bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Support for transition and further education must be improved.”
- education according to labour market needs»Utbildningssystemet behöver i betydligt större utsträckning utgå från arbetsmarknadens behov.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The education system needs to be much more based on labour market needs.”
- retraining later in life»För den som förlorat arbetet, eller vill byta inriktning senare i livet, måste studiesystemet erbjuda möjligheter« (party programme ↗)“For those who have lost their job, or want to change direction later in life, the study system must offer opportunities”
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 requires that the possibility to further educate oneself or change profession mid-life be greatly improved, that employees shall be able to develop skills on a part-time basis and that intensive courses and three-term systems be used.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that the possibility to further educate oneself or change profession mid-life be greatly improved, that employees shall be able to develop skills on a part-time basis and that intensive courses and three-term systems be used. A more flexible offering of short courses for working professionals follows from that. At the same time the plan establishes that each university itself determines what studies are offered, which speaks against overly steering targeted tasks.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att möjligheten att vidareutbilda sig eller byta yrke mitt i livet förbättras kraftigt, att anställda ska kunna kompetensutveckla sig på deltid och att intensivkurser och treterminssystem används. Ett mer flexibelt utbud av korta kurser för yrkesverksamma följer av det. Samtidigt slår planen fast att varje högskola själv bestämmer vilka utbildningar som erbjuds, vilket talar mot alltför styrande riktade uppdrag.
- reskilling mid-lifedecisive»vidareutbilda sig eller lära sig ett helt nytt yrke mitt i livet måste förbättras kraftigt.« (party programme ↗)“further educate themselves or learn a completely new profession mid-life must be greatly improved.”
- skills development part-time»Anställda ska kunna gå ner i lön och arbetstid för att kompetensutveckla sig på deltid.« (party programme ↗)“Employees shall be able to lower wages and working time to develop skills on a part-time basis.”
- flexible course forms»Treterminssystem och intensivkurser är viktiga för att möjliggöra att utbildningen kan fullföljas« (party programme ↗)“Three-term systems and intensive courses are important to enable studies to be completed”
- institutions' self-determination»kvalitetskraven, vilka utbildningar som erbjuds och hur utbildningen bedrivs.« (party programme ↗)“quality requirements, what studies are offered and how studies are conducted.”
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 states that opportunities for continued studies should not be limited to a certain age interval, that adult education should be well developed and that this increases the prerequisites for meeting the rapidly changing needs of the labour market.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that opportunities for continued studies should not be limited to a certain age interval, that adult education should be well developed and that this increases the prerequisites for meeting the rapidly changing needs of the labour market. A more flexible supply with short courses and part-time courses for working professionals is precisely this commitment put into practice. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att möjligheterna till fortsatta studier inte ska vara begränsade till ett visst åldersintervall, att vuxenutbildningen ska vara väl utbyggd och att detta ökar förutsättningarna att möta arbetsmarknadens snabbt skiftande behov. Ett flexiblare utbud med korta kurser och deltidskurser för yrkesverksamma är just detta åtagande omsatt i praktiken. Planen ger därför stöd åt motförslaget.
- lifelong learningdecisive»Möjligheterna till fortsatta studier ska inte vara begränsade till ett visst åldersintervall i yngre år« (party programme ↗)“Opportunities for continued studies should not be limited to a certain age interval in younger years”
- developed adult education»vuxenutbildningen ska vara väl utbyggd« (party programme ↗)“adult education should be well developed”
- vocationally oriented further education»Med kvalificerade praktiska utbildningar på exempelvis yrkeshögskola ökar förutsättningarna för detta« (party programme ↗)“With qualified practical education in e.g. vocational college, the prerequisites for this increase”
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 notes that demands for transition in working life are increasing and that there is therefore a need to promptly introduce various shorter training programmes, and promises national coordination of training places for better skills provision.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto notes that demands for transition in working life are increasing and that there is therefore a need to promptly introduce various shorter training programmes, and promises national coordination of training places for better skills provision. The counter-proposal's demand for more short courses and part-time courses for working professionals, with targeted commissions and resources to educational institutions, is the same commitment. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet konstaterar att kraven på omställning i arbetslivet ökar och att det därför finns behov av att snarast införa olika kortare utbildningar, samt lovar nationell samordning av utbildningsplatser för bättre kompetensförsörjning. Motförslagets krav på fler korta kurser och deltidskurser för yrkesverksamma, med riktade uppdrag och resurser till lärosätena, är samma åtagande. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- short training promptlydecisive»Det finns därför behov av att snarast införa olika kortare utbildningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There is therefore a need to promptly introduce various shorter training programmes.”
- coordinated skills provision»Få på plats en nationell samordning över samhällets behov av antalet utbildningsplatser för att förbättra kompetensförsörjningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Put in place national coordination across society's need for the number of training places to improve skills provision”
- relevant vocational and adult training»De gymnasiala yrkesutbildningarna och vuxenutbildningarna i Sverige måste få ett innehåll som är relevant och eftertraktat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Upper secondary vocational training and adult training in Sweden must have content that is relevant and in demand.”
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 establishes that the public sector shall meet the need for further education and transition for those who need to change profession during their lifetime, and that education shall take place according to the labour market's needs.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the public sector shall meet the need for further education and transition for those who need to change profession during their lifetime, and that education shall take place according to the labour market's needs. The counter-proposal's requirement for a more flexible range with more short courses and part-time courses for working professionals is an implementation of that commitment. Targeted assignments to higher education institutions, however, go partly against the plan's requirement for reduced political control.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det offentliga ska tillgodose behovet av vidareutbildning och omställning för den som behöver byta yrke under livets gång, och att utbildning ska ske efter arbetsmarknadens behov. Motförslagets krav på ett flexiblare utbud med fler korta kurser och deltidskurser för yrkesverksamma är en tillämpning av det åtagandet. Riktade uppdrag till lärosätena går dock delvis emot planens krav på minskad politisk styrning.
- further education and transitiondecisive»Det offentliga bör som en del av arbetsmarknadspolitiken tillgodose behovet av vidareutbildning och omställning för den som behöver byta yrke under livets gång.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The public sector should as part of labour market policy meet the need for further education and transition for those who need to change profession during their lifetime.”
- education according to need»Utbilda efter de behov som finns på arbetsmarknaden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Educate according to the needs that exist on the labour market”
- adapted higher education»Den högre utbildningen ska i högre grad anpassas efter behoven på en framtida arbetsmarknad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Higher education shall to a greater extent be adapted to the needs of a future labour market.”
- 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 academia's independence 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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:UbU14)
- Committee report full text (HB01UbU14)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1077 — En ny tandläkarutbildning av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1112 — Avskilja brottslingar från utbildning av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1144 — Avtal med Storbritannien om svenska studenters studieavgifter av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1190 — Värdighet för äldre och professionalisering av äldreomsorgen av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1216 — Utveckla studenthälsan av Stina Larsson (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1339 — Campusförlagda utbildningsplatser på Mittuniversitetet i Sundsvall av Peder Björk och Malin Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1342 — Tillträde till universitet och högskolor av Niklas Karlsson och Adrian Magnusson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1359 — Högre utbildning för hela landet av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1442 — Lämplighetstest för lärarutbildningen av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1461 — Bättre matchning inför framtida yrkesval av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1563 — Inrättande av utbildningstjänst för studenter i lärarprogram av Adnan Dibrani m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1644 — Ombildning av Högskolan i Borås till universitet av Stina Larsson och Mikael Larsson (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1693 — Förbättrade förutsättningar för validering av utländska läkarutbildningar av Johan Büser och Dzenan Cisija (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1715 — Fler utbildningsplatser till avancerad specialistsjuksköterska av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1725 — Högskolan i Skövde av Ida Ekeroth Clausson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:178 — Kost-, nutritions- och näringslära för sjukvårdspersonal av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:179 — Meritpoäng för genomförd värnplikt av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1839 — Teckenspråk av Carita Boulwén (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1845 — Jönköping University som universitet av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1908 — Jämlik fördelning av högre utbildning i hela landet av Linnéa Wickman m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament