Scan Magazine

By Dr. Tobias Krantz, Minister of higher education and research, Sweden  |  Photo: Michael Lundgren

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For a relatively small country, Sweden offers big opportunities. The number of educational programs varies as much as the geography. Regardless of where your interest lies, be it in science, film, medicine or philosophy, Sweden can provide world-class programs in a number of fields.

From the arctic north to the continental south, there are no less than 38 universities and university colleges to choose from. This is no coincidence. Sweden is a country that puts strong emphasis on ­education as the single most important factor to remain economically competitive and politically just.

This emphasis on education has a long history. Although ill-equipped with sun-hours, Sweden has been able to attract skilled workers and gifted students from all over the world with excellent universities, a high standard of living and an impressive level of English proficiency. For centuries, our wealth has derived from trade and innovation.

Openness remains a core feature of Swedish society, and a key for our success. As a minister of higher education and research, I am personally convinced that this constitutes one of the main reasons for why we have been able to produce so many outstanding researchers.

Just look at Carl von Linné, the “father of botany”, or John Ericsson, who invented the propeller among other things. Both men travelled extensively and gave service to people well beyond our national borders. Perhaps the most famous Swedish inventor of them all, Nobel,  made a huge imprint on the history of mankind, and continues to do so today. The Nobel prize festivities in Stockholm are not only a matter of national pride because it puts us in the international limelight, its true value lies in the fact that it is a yearly celebration of the human mind and all it can achieve. However, given all the challenges and opportunities globalisation offers, it is obvious that it is what we make of the rest of the year that matters. Creating world-class science environments takes time and effort, as well as vast resources.

Therefore, I am proud to announce that this administration recently made an historic push, injecting large amounts of money into the educational system further to enhance quality and accessibility. By putting quality first, we aim to make sure that the students at our universities get a hefty return for their investment in time and energy. Thousands of young people choose to come to Sweden to invest in their future – we will do our utmost to honour that trust by providing the best we have.

We know that great ideas must be able to transcend national boundaries. Knowledge thrives when it is able to flow freely. That is why internationalism provides a cornerstone in our educational policy. And why I would very much like to welcome you to one of our universities.