SFS comments on the Prime Minister's invitation to talks on skills supply

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has, according to one press release 2016-11-10, invited the central parties in the labor market to discuss how policies can be developed to cope with the future supply of skills in the Swedish labor market. It is good that there is a dialogue and it is especially good that ministers with responsibility for education are also invited. Going forward, however, more parties, from other parts of society, need to participate in this discussion to ensure policy development based on a nuanced picture based on many different perspectives.

We at the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) constantly emphasize the importance of generic skills and abilities in the discussion about skills supply. In a reality of ever faster change, it is becoming increasingly important that higher education is not reduced to producing finished professional roles with narrow, specific knowledge. Subject and industry knowledge are obviously important, but on their own they do not help us deal with a complex reality. Today's and future students need to be equipped with abilities - an analytical, critical thinking and a general, creative problem-solving ability.

In the future, flexibility in the labor market will probably become increasingly important, in order to meet changing needs and changing demand, which places great demands on both working life and education. Through education, people need to develop abilities and also be offered lifelong learning where skills can be continuously developed and worked on throughout life. At the same time, working life needs to see the students who “come out” on the labor market as resources with great development potential. Learning does not end at graduation.

The fact that there are many vacancies waiting to be filled does not necessarily mean that they all need to be filled by people who grew up in Sweden. If the government seriously wants to pursue a policy that ensures the supply of skills while at the same time taking global responsibility for better conditions and exchange of skills, tuition fees should be abolished for third-country students, the issue of residence permits for international students taken more seriously and the processes to validate real competence and foreign degrees are made more efficient through increased funding for the University and College Council (UHR).  

The absolute biggest thing that can be done from a political point of view to secure the supply of skills of the future is to focus on higher education consistently maintaining good quality. Through a quality-driven education with good pedagogy, we not only no longer reach in terms of competence, but we also make sure to broaden participation and create conditions to meet tomorrow's challenges.

Charlotta Tjärdahl, Vice Chairman