Sweden needs to prepare for ongoing global changes in the production of knowledge and competition for knowledge resources, writes STINT in its statement on the first report of the Internationalisation Inquiry.
The report is a good initiative, but a broader, international approach to the Swedish knowledge system is required, particularly as the world is changing quickly and new rules are added to an increasingly global and level playing field, writes STINT in its statement on the Internationalisation Inquiry’s interim report entitled A Strategic Agenda for Internationalisation (see link below).
The world is rapidly changing and emerging countries aim to become knowledge economies. Swedish higher education will be affected by this development. It is therefore good that the government is taking a long-term approach to higher education and research in a global context, since the area is central to Sweden’s future competitiveness.
New goals and a new national internationalisation strategy are proposed in the report. It is however crucial that higher education institutions have the freedom to create their own internationalisation strategies if Swedish higher education is to be excellent, inclusive and, of course, enriching to individuals and society.
In order to be attractive internationally, Swedish higher education institutions must be able to collaborate and compete with institutions in other countries. At present, there are for instance regulations preventing Swedish higher education institutions from participating in certain types of partnerships, even within Europe, and it is unfortunate that doctoral students from other countries leave Sweden to continue their research elsewhere due to outdated regulations. It is positive that this Inquiry also includes such systemic issues, so that different actors do not work against each other.
Need for education greater than ever before
More middle-income countries are refining their economies and the growing global middleclass is in greater need of education than ever before. Former developing countries now want to pay for education and are seeking education providers on a very large scale. Sweden, Swedish higher education institutions and the Swedish business sector therefore have great opportunities, but there is still no strategy for how the country can benefit from the international educational market. The Swedish knowledge system needs to prepare for ongoing global changes in the production of knowledge and competition for knowledge resources.
It is important that Swedish higher education institutions are included in the investments made by different countries as they develop their higher education and research. In this way, Swedish higher education institutions can influence the developments in these countries and promote Swedish values such as tolerance, transparency and ethics through science diplomacy. This is done at the same time as Sweden accesses new markets and knowledge, meaning that we can improve our own knowledge system to retain competitiveness. We note that the report takes these aspects into consideration.
It is unlikely that funding of the Swedish higher education sector will drastically increase in coming years. Therefore funding from outside Sweden is needed to expand research and education operations. Currently, Swedish businesses are investing in projects at foreign universities and our higher education institutions must also be attractive to foreign investors. We find this aspect lacking in the report.
Importance of trend analysis
Trend analysis is an important tool in the continuous improvement of the Swedish knowledge system and in ensuring its quality and competitiveness. It is promising that the report pays attention to this important tool. More resources should be allocated to trend analysis in higher education and research and it should be accorded more significance in the Swedish knowledge system, so that the government, appropriate public authorities and of course higher education institutions can expand their networks in and knowledge of the rapid development of higher education and research. This is particularly the case for countries showing the greatest growth in scholarly production. Presence in these countries is essential for trend analysis and networking.
It is good that the government in this report reviews systemic limitations, but it is also important that the Swedish higher education institutions have access to trend analysis so that they can develop appropriate strategies on the basis of facts and analyses.
If Swedish higher education institutions are too careful, inward looking and provincial, and if they fail to develop international contacts, this will have a negative impact on Sweden’s future. We want to highlight the need for and importance of taking an international approach to internationalisation at Swedish higher education institutions.
Read STINT’s opinion on the internationalisation report’s sub-report in its entirety.
STINT’s full statement on the interim report of the Internationalisation Inquiry (In Swedish).