Högskolepodden

How does the Left Party view independent universities? What is the point of student influence?

In this section of Högskolepodden The Left Party's leader Nooshi Dadgostar is a guest. She talks about her own time studying and her path into politics, and develops her view on the role of higher education in society.

The conversation will revolve around student influence and the importance of student unions for the quality of education. There will also be a discussion about the long-term underfunding of higher education, the need for more teacher-led time, and investments in education and research as a central part of Sweden's future competitiveness.

Ahead of the 2026 election, SFS will invite an extra number of politicians to HögskolepoddenThis is part of that effort.

Program host: Rasmus Lindstedt.

In this section of Högskolepodden is guesting with the Social Democrats' party chair Magdalena Andersson. The conversation covers everything from her own time studying and involvement in the student union to questions about student influence, the quality of higher education and academic freedom. How do Social Democrats see academic freedom being ensured? We also talk about the role of universities in society, political governance of higher education and which issues may be crucial for students ahead of the 2026 election, such as student finances, housing and access to good education.
Ahead of the 2026 election, SFS will invite an extra number of politicians to HögskolepoddenThis is part of that effort.

What does the Center Party really want with higher education, research funding and student conditions? In this episode of Högskolepodden Rasmus Lindstedt, chairman of the Swedish National Union of Students, meets party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist in a conversation about Swedish higher education.

There will be a discussion about strengthened academic freedom, more basic funding for research, student influence on university boards and a student finance system that must also work in the event of illness and long courses. Why did the Center Party's autumn budget contain a reduced allocation to student unions despite previous promises to SFS and the member unions? What issues will be important for the Center Party ahead of the election and what does it mean for Sweden's students?

Ahead of the 2026 election, SFS will invite an extra number of politicians to HögskolepoddenThis is part of that effort.

What do the Christian Democrats really think about the reduction in support for Sweden's student unions? What is the connection between higher education and the government's business policy? What does the Christian Democrats' slogan Care, everyday life and values ​​mean for Sweden's students and for higher education policy?
Today we talk to Camilla Brodin, Member of Parliament, group leader for the Christian Democrats and member of the Parliament's Committee on Economic Affairs.

Högskolepodden is hosted by Camilla Hansén, education policy spokesperson for the Green Party. We talk about why Swedish students get so little teacher-led time – and what is needed to reverse the underfunding in higher education. Also: strengthened student funding, student housing and why the role of student unions is crucial for quality and influence. The episode also addresses the balance between climate initiatives and academic freedom – how do you govern without controlling in detail?

Högskolepodden is hosted by Oliver Rosengren, Member of Parliament (M) and member of the Education Committee. Oliver talks about his background, time studying and views on the role of higher education in society. He gives his view on the need for reforms in the student financial aid system and professional education, where he advocates a greater focus on work-life relevance and questions the role of independent work in certain vocational education. The conversation also touches on issues of academic freedom, the funding and independence of student unions, and the connection between higher education and Sweden's economic development.

Stephen Hwang has submitted a proposal on behalf of the government for a special compensation model for transition training and further training for professionals. Now that the investigation has been handed over, what is he actually proposing?

SFS Vice President Elsa Berlin interviews Stephen Hwang about the inquiry's proposal, how the model is intended to work, and how it will affect higher education in general.

Högskolepodden is hosted by Anne L'Huillier, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2023 together with researchers Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz. What does one actually do to win the Nobel Prize? What is needed for more researchers to be able to achieve that kind of excellence? And how does Anne view her role as a university teacher?

Swedish politicians are often inspired by Denmark, including in higher education policy. While Sweden has not implemented major reforms since 1993, Denmark is now implementing major changes. A reform commission has proposed shortening master's programs and reducing student loan weeks, which has been heavily criticized by students. The goal is to get students out of the job market faster – but critics say it goes too far.

In a polarized political climate, the Center Party has a unique role to play. How does a centrist party see its place in higher education policy? Why is academic freedom so important to them? And what exactly are the Center Party's ambitions for higher education?

In the latest episode, we are visited by Anders Ådahl, the Center Party's spokesperson for higher education and research and tax policy spokesperson. With his background as a doctorate holder in the environment and energy, he shares his thoughts on future education policy.

Former SFS chairman Jacob Färnert talks to Karin Åmossa, head of social policy at the Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers. Karin Åmossa wrote the report "System failures in the knowledge factory", a real newsreel in the higher education world. It describes and measures an alarming erosion of university resources - but what does the situation look like six years later?

How do we educate the engineers of the future? Anders Söderholm, Vice-Chancellor at KTH and former Director General of the University Chancellor's Office, contributes his perspective.

Higher education policy! How is the debate really going? What is one's higher education policy and how should we students think about the issues being discussed? It's time to take the temperature – in a higher education policy hour.

Mats Benner and Jacob Färnert, Chairman of SFS, discuss Sweden's research policy and the next research bill.

We investigate the state of academic freedom in Sweden together with Professor Shirin Ahlbäck Öberg.

These are troubled times in the world and Högskolepodden discusses the role of higher education institutions in total defense. How are higher education institutions and students affected by the new security policy situation? How would the education sector function during war and crisis?

In the season finale of Högskolepodden Oskar M Wiik talks with Minister of Education Anna Ekström about (all) current political issues.

Together with SFS chairman Linn Svärd, Lars Strannegård & Patrick Amsellem try to put into words what education is and why it is so important.

Aida Hadzialic, opposition regional councilor in Stockholm, on how the region can create the right conditions for all students.

Åsa Romson, former spokesperson for the Green Party, talks about her role as a university teacher and researcher. Are there any common denominators between being a top politician and an educator?

Sanna Wolk, SULF's new union chairwoman, talks about why it took ten years to get a permanent job as an academic, about how the new migration law threatens research, and about how gender-equal the research world really is.

Torbjörn Nilsson, perhaps one of the country's most prominent political reporters, is a guest Högskolepoddens ninth episode to tell the story of the college's political history.

Karin Röding has been a powerful figure in the Swedish higher education sector for many years. What changes has she seen from inside the machinery? And where are we headed?

Student housing is just getting more and more expensive - how do we bring the prices down?

In this section we talk about accessibility and broadened participation in higher education.

In this episode, SFS meets presidium Center Party leader Annie Lööf.

In this episode, Linn and Simon from SFS meet presidium Samuel Engblom, Head of Social Policy at TCO

In this episode, Linn and Simon from SFS meet presidium Marita Hilliges, Secretary General of SUHF, and Stefan Bengtsson, Rector of Chalmers University of Technology and former Vice Chairman of SUHF.

In this episode, SFS meets presidium, Linn and Simon, Gunilla Svantorp who is the Chair of the Education Committee. They talk about, among other things, the research bill, Corona and honorary awards.

In the first episode we get to meet SFS's current presidium: Simon Edström and Linn Svärd. We get to know them as presidium and they tell you what to expect from upcoming episodes.