Gunnar Öquist

Gunnar Öquist and Mats Benner

Sweden has a reputation for great research – but policy leaders there are sounding an alarm about a decline in quality. A new study has implications for policy makers across Europe, say Gunnar Öquist and Mats Benner 

In 2010, the Swedish Research Council published a report showing that during the previous 20 years the amount of Swedish research that rated as having a major international impact had undergone a relative decline compared with Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland. These countries are 35 to 40 per cent above world average in terms of high impact research output, an achievement that ranks alongside the US.  In comparison, Sweden’s performance is 15 per cent above world average, while Finland’s performance is 5 per cent above world average.

These bibliometric studies also reveal that high impact research in Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland covers more subject fields, and that the recruitment of young researchers performing at this top level is stronger than in Sweden. 

On behalf of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and in collaboration with the Research Council, we made a comparative analysis of the research systems of these countries in order to elucidate why Sweden has a weaker showing in high impact research. The report ‘Fostering breakthrough research: A comparative study’ was published  on 9 December 2012, along with an article in the major Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. The report can be downloaded here.

Decline is despite generous R&D funding

It should be noted that the relative decline in Sweden’s research has occurred despite relatively generous national support for R&D. The report identifies universities as the weak link in the Swedish research system, which is an effect of the national science policy during the last 20 years.

One major characteristic of Swedish (and Finnish) universities is that they are much more dependent on short-term external funding of projects than are the more successful universities in the countries of comparison. Swedish universities have more or less developed into “research hotels” for externally-funded projects, a development that has gone much further than in Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland, where university floor funding of research still dominates. In addition, Swedish universities have less focus on international recruitment, mobility is largely neglected in recruitment and the career system for young researchers is notoriously weak.

Furthermore, Swedish universities are today conglomerates of activities with different missions and goals: research covers everything from cutting edge research at the international level to research for regional development, all post-high school professional education is today organised under the unified university umbrella. Another factor is that collaboration with local communities is put on the same level as education and research.

Although these reforms were put in place as building blocks of a knowledge-based society, they blurred the role and mission of the Swedish universities to the point where groundbreaking research is just one of many roles of a university. Some similar trends are visible in the countries of comparison, although not to the same extent as in Sweden.

Management versus academic leadership

This development has also gradually shifted university leadership towards being administrators of the wide range of assorted functions for which universities are now responsible (management). As a result they are moving away from exercising genuine academic leadership and on ensuring academic renewal through ground breaking research and education of the highest academic standard.

By contrast, the more successful universities in the reference countries emphasise academic leadership at all levels. The principal function of these leaders is to strengthen quality in education and research through recruitment and by providing good career opportunities for young scientists. In Sweden, these functions are in reality very much in the hands of external funders and those individual researchers who are in control of substantial research grants. 

Restructure Sweden’s universities

Strengthening high impact research in Sweden is critically dependent on an academic leadership that puts the highest priority on establishing environments for breakthrough research. This can be done through budget allocation and recruitment, and by providing internationally competitive career programmes. With the increased autonomy of Swedish universities, there is now room for organisational and operational restructuring of the universities to enable them to better fulfil their different tasks – and in that process provide the conditions for improving the conditions for high impact research.  Universities that show strength in making such reforms should be entrusted with increased floor funding from the government, to match the situation of the most successful universities in Europe.

It is important that policy-makers at both national and European levels understand that groundbreaking research at the highest level can only be achieved by supporting individuals with novel ideas, providing them with resources and a nurturing research environment. Such support is essential for a knowledge-based society with ambitions to apply breakthrough research to open up for new solutions to deal with the global challenges of today and tomorrow.

Gunnar Öquist is Professor Emeritus, Umeå University and Former Permanent Secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Mats Benner is Professor of Science Policy, Lund University

Umeå University offers limited scholarships on merit basis to students from outside the EU/EEA. These scholarships are offered to international students for pursuing master’s Degree level. The scholarships will include a full or partial reduction of the tuition fee. The scholarship does not cover any living expenses. Umeå University does not offer any scholarships for EU/EEA/Swiss students.The application deadline is 31 March 2013. 

About Scholarship: Umeå University offers a limited number of scholarships, a reduction of the tuition fee, to students from outside the EU/EEA. High performing students applying for a master’s degree programme at Umeå University as their first choice in the application process will be eligible for this scholarship.

The scholarships will include a full or partial reduction of the tuition fee. Please note that the scholarship does not cover any living expenses. 

Study: Courses offered by the university

Course Level: Master’s degree

Scholarship By: Umeå University

Location: Sweden

Value: The scholarships will include a full or partial reduction of the tuition fee. Please note that the scholarship does not cover any living expenses. 

Eligibility: Scholarships are based on merit and open only to:

-Students are applying for a Master’s degree programme

-Students who have Umeå University as first preference at University. 

Scholarship Open for International Students: Yes 

Apply: Electronically

Deadline: 31 March 2013

Further Information: http://www.umu.se/english/education/tuition/scholarships

The city’s university scored higher than all the others in the country, ranking first in the main categories of living and support, second for arrival, and third for learning, in the International Student Satisfaction survey carried out by the International Student Barometer.

The questionnaire was conducted at a total of 208 universities throughout the world, including 13 in Sweden.

In total, 209,422 exchange and other international students participated during October to December 2011 and Umeå scored highly in almost every category, coming out on top as the most popular university in Sweden.

The university apparently has the most satisfied students in Sweden in 16 specific areas including internet access, graduate school, sports facilities, course organisation, social activities, international office and physical library.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the best scores came in the categories of accommodation and internet access, where Umeå achieved satisfaction ratings of 98 percent and 93 percent respectively.

This put it at number one in both Sweden and global categories. Elsewhere it scored first in Sweden in social activities, sports facilities, graduate school and nine other areas.

For foreign students in particular, first impressions are of huge importance. A lot of effort is made to make the students feel comfortable in every way on arrival, and this is reflected in the survey.

“The facilities are great and it really makes studying easy. There are plenty of cafeterias and relax areas that allow students to have a break and work in teams,” says Iñigo Lizarza, from San Sebastian, Spain, who is studying business Management.

“It really gives meaning to the “university-life” cliché, since there are days where I spend 10 to 12 hours here.”

Min Shan from Beijing, is currently studying a Master’s Programme in IT Management. She was equally impressed with Umeå University.

“My first impression was that the study environment is very cozy and clean here. Maybe it’s because I am from China, which is very crowded, that I feel pretty comfortable here,” she says.

“I can go to the library to study anytime and there are always empty spaces there. The teachers and staff are very friendly and have helped me solve lots of problems.”

Experiencing a stark contrast to his home environment was foremost in Iñigo’s decision-making process.

“It is radically different from my home university and the country is really exotic too,” he says. Like many others, he was impressed with the welcome and the living facilities, which in turn, help to create a good social life for all the students.

“I live in what could be classified as a student ghetto but in a good way,” he adds. “We all live close to each other and there is always something to do. The process of securing accommodation was fairly easy and the prices are good too. I cannot complain at all.

“Thanks to buddy groups and IKSU (the on-campus sport and fitness centre), we always manage to get out and enjoy ourselves. I really did not expect there to be so much nightlife in a small city like this, but the big student community makes every weekend great,” says Iñigo.

Academic excellence is naturally first and foremost in the minds of students coming from abroad. Once again Umeå University scores highly in the survey. Here too, the difference from what he was used to, attracted Iñigo.

“The methods are completely different, much more theoretical than in Spain,” he says. “It’s not better or worse, just different. Students have much more autonomy to organise their study time and this makes the student more responsible.”

In Min Shan’s case, the method of teaching was also an eye-opener.
“I like most of my courses here,” she says. “Basically, the teachers arrange the courses following some basic rules. Within the course, teachers give us more space to think, learn and present in our own way.

“They say ‘we are not looking for right or wrong answers’ and I like this a lot. In every course, we have chancs to practice the knowledge we have learnt through real cases,” she says.

Umeå was far from the only Swedish university to receive high marks in the survey. Although studying in this country will be more costly than it used to be, Sweden scored highly in relation to other major international cities, most notably in areas like quality, safety and friendliness and Umeå seems to be especially appreciated for its multicultural environment.

According to the survey, Sweden is a safe and secure country to live in, where educational and research quality is high, where the people are friendly.

In times of maximum competition to attract the most talented students, surveys such as the ISB prove the country’s efforts to build its popularity are already paying off.

The Department of Nursing, which has one hundred employees, conducted training for nurses and radiology nurse, continuing education programs for nurses, master’s and doctoral / research in nursing.

The position includes teaching and supervision of education at first, second and third levels, and research and development in nursing. It also includes development of new courses, mainly in basic care, supervision and examination of independent projects and administrative tasks. Teaching at another location may occur.

The candidate’s research will focus on the care of elderly persons and person-centered care. The position includes time for research over 50 percent of working hours during the first two years.

Qualified for appointment as lecturer must first have pedagogical experience, and has a doctorate or equivalent academic qualifications or other professional skills that are relevant with regard to the subject matter and duties to be included in the position.

The applicant has extensive experience in independent research with a focus on care of elderly persons and person-centered care. The applicant must have documented this by publishing in journals in the field. For appointment is experience which is relevant with regard to the subject content and tasks especially meritorious. Although international and local research collaboration is an advantage.

Assessment for the employment of teachers shall be the degree of expertise that is required to qualify for employment. In addition, the weighting of merit to be as follows: academic skills (3), teaching skills (2).

In addition, the specific level of administrative skills and ability to lead and develop activity, ability to interact with the community and to provide information on research and development (1).

When judging scientific proficiency special emphasis on independent research. In the assessment of teaching skills will take into account the proven experience of planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching and supervision and examination.

List of documents etc. to be attached to the application can be found at http://www.medfak.umu.se/instr-ansokan.

Additional information provided by the department head Christine Brulin, 090-786 91 20, christine.brulin @ nurs.umu.se.

F disgusting information is available from SACO, phone 090-786 53 65, SEKO, phone 090-786 52 96 and ST, phone 090-786 54 31st

Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format. Looking for several positions with different serial number, you must submit an application for each position.

Your application marked with the reg 312-57-12 must be received at jobb@umu.se (state dnr that matter) or to Umeå University, Registrator, 901 87 Umeå, last 2012-02-09.