Background information

To increase opportunities to study at higher education institutions, the government has made a general expansion of the number of places, as well as specific expansions of places on summer courses and a foundation year, so that more people have the opportunity to obtain eligibility to enter into further education/training, for example in health care professions. In addition, funding to higher education institutions has been increased to strengthen their capacity and develop work on distance learning. Funding has also been allocated for internet-based education, also known as MOOCs (massive open online courses), which are free of charge and open to the public. Anyone who is given notice of the termination of their contract will be able to use these courses to quickly begin knowledge acquisition. To compensate for increased workload, the Swedish Council for Higher Education and the Swedish Board of Student Finance will also receive increased funding.

Content of measure

The measure to introduce more places and more distance learning at higher education institutions includes: 1. Foundation year (supplementary courses, e.g. in care, health care or technical fields), incl. student aid (SEK 0.28 billion); 2. Summer courses, incl. student aid (SEK 0.18 billion); 3. More students in higher education institutions, incl. student aid (SEK 0.15 billion); 4. Distance education, incl. MOOCs (SEK 0.06 billion); 5. More people eligible for supplementary teacher education programmes, Further education for unqualified teachers (SEK 0.02 billion); 6. Reinforcements to the Swedish Board of Student Finance and the Swedish Council for Higher Education (SEK 0.02 billion).

Use of measure

It is too early to say how many will make use of the strengthened education opportunities.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

N/A

Views and reactions

N/A

Sources

• 30 March 2020: Crisis package for jobs and transition (www.government.se)