Diversity In the higher education sector, 34 per cent of employees have a non-Swedish background and in Sweden's population as a whole, 31 per cent. But in the senior management teams of higher education institutions, the corresponding figure is 12 per cent, Universitetsläraren’s analysis shows.
Doctoral students A month's work in the industry gave doctoral candidate Shengxin Liu new perspectives on her knowledge and competence. The internship programme at Karolinska Institutet, KI, is much appreciated by both researchers and the participating employers.
Work environment The staff at Mälardalen University have now been working in activity-based office space in Eskilstuna for a couple of years. The union was critical of the solution right from the start, and still is. “But there is a certain amount of resignation that this is now how things are,” says local SULF chair Michaël Le Duc.
Politics The new Minister for Education, Mats Persson of the Liberal Party, has announced that the new government will implement "major reforms" in higher education and research.
Doctoral students Grinding your teeth in your sleep. Palpitations and feelings of panic. Time pressure and stress can be part of doctoral candidate life from programme start to graduation. Lowering the bar and seeing “the threat" as a challenge are two tricks you can use along the way.
International Since the outbreak of war in February, Ukrainian researchers have been forced to flee abroad in order to continue their work. Several higher education institutions in Sweden have welcomed them, in different ways and with different types of funding. How research – in Sweden, Ukraine and internationally – will be impacted by the war remains to be seen.
International The University and College Union, UCU, are taking strike actions. Around 70 000 members at 150 universities all around the UK are set to strike for three days, seeking pay rises due to the cost of living crisis.
Work environment University West is to be refurbished so that the staff will have activity-based workspaces rather than their own permanent office space. The union opposes this decision, says SULF representative Tobias Arvemo.
Work environment Wellness allowances for higher education sector employees vary between SEK 0 and SEK 4,000 per year, depending on the employer. Luleå University of Technology is the only higher education institution where employees receive no wellness allowance at all.
Funding The number of fee-paying international students continued to increase during the pandemic, and higher education institutions' income from paying students is also increasing. Total income from tuition fees is now SEK 963 million.