Government proposes tuition fees for foreign students
In the 2010 Budget Bill, the Government proposes that foreign students wishing to study in Sweden should pay fees. The proposal means that foreign students (from countries outside the European Economic Area) will pay for their studies starting in the autumn term of 2011.
Minister for Education Jan Björklund presented proposal for new Education Act
On Monday 15 June, Minister for Education Jan Björklund presented his Ministry's proposal for a new Education Act. The proposal includes changes concerning the legal rights of parents and custodians and tougher sanctions for use by the Swedish Schools Inspectorate.
Tobias Krantz - new Minister for Higher Education and Research
Today, Tobias Krantz is appointed as the new Minister for Higher Education and Research. Dr Krantz is an MP for the liberal party of Sweden, Folkpartiet liberalerna, and holds a Ph.D in political science.Tobias Krantz
Lars Leijonborg steps down
Minister for Higher Education and Research Lars Leijonborg has announced that he is leaving the Government. He will formally leave the Government as soon as a successor is appointed.Photo: Anne Nilsson
Government awards photographer Lennart Nilsson title of professor
Today the Government has decided to honour the photographer Lennart Nilsson by awarding him the title of professor, an honorary title that can be given in recognition of services outside the academic world that are of great importance for popular education or some other community purpose. Minister for Higher Education and Research Lars Leijonborg informed Lennart Nilsson of the decision at a meeting at Karolinska Institutet on Thursday afternoon.
Sweden and Spain in agreement about ESS
Sweden and Spain intend to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that the research facility ESS (European Spallation Source) will be built in Lund, Sweden.
Agreement reached - Denmark prepared to pay 12.5 per cent of European Spallation Source in Lund
Sweden has offered to host the European Spallation Source (ESS) research facility. Sweden's Minister for Higher Education and Research Lars Leijonborg and Denmark's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Helge Sander today signed an agreement under which Denmark will co-host the project.
Abolition of compulsory membership of student unions
In "Freedom and influence - abolition of compulsory membership of student unions" (Government Bill 2008/09:154) the Government proposes that the compulsory membership of student unions and student nations be abolished and replaced by a modern system of student influence.
Higher education institutions to have power to award doctoral degrees in strong profile areas - no new universities being considered
The Government today presented the bill Doctoral studies with profiling and quality to the Riksdag. The bill contains proposals on how universities and higher education institutions are to conduct doctoral studies in the future.
Ministers back at school
On Monday 23 February, German Minister for Family Affairs Ursula von der Leyen visited Sweden to meet her Swedish colleagues Minister for Education Jan Björklund and Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni to discuss childcare issues. Mr Björklund and Ms von der Leyen also visited Täppan pre-school.

