The news of increased funding for UHR and a pilot project to develop the processes for assessing real competence was presented in a press release from the Ministry of Education and Helene Hellmark Knutsson (S) Minister for Higher Education and Research on 23 November 2016.
SFS welcomes the announcement that the Swedish Council for Universities and University Colleges (UHR) will receive increased funding to develop the processes for assessing real competence. It is a positive and much-needed investment that in order for more people to have their skills assessed, we also believe that UHR is best suited to develop this and implement the pilot project. It is gratifying that SFS's opinions have had an impact and we are convinced that the investment is a step in the right direction to make higher education in Sweden more accessible.
SFS has long pushed for the issue of clear systems that promote the opportunities to start higher education. We work both with opinion formation, but also hands-on by appointing student representatives to, for example, UHR's board and the state Access Inquiry.
Yesterday (Nov 24) we had a meeting with the Admission Inquiry and there SFS expressed hopes for more paths to the university so that more people can apply for and start an education. Assessment of real competence is an important way into the university for many groups that would otherwise risk being excluded. However, the assessment is resource-intensive and for a well-functioning system that promotes broadened recruitment, investments similar to the one we were informed about yesterday are needed.
What SFS wants to see in the future is a long-term, permanent solution with adequate funding for the assessment of real competence. Only then can Sweden approach the vision of a knowledge society and education for all.
Caroline Sundberg, President of the Swedish National Union of Students
Press Release from the Ministry of Education 24 November 2016
UHR's film clip from the conference "University students on the run" - interviews with i.a. SFS chairman Caroline Sundberg and the Minister for Higher Education Helene Hellmark Knutsson (S)
Information about the Access Inquiry