The main idea in the book is that university teachers should be held responsible for the results, which they are not today. The goal should be to improve the quality of education through teachers setting proper standards and students increasing their efforts. University teachers should not get a free hand to control and adjust at their own discretion, according to the authors. "The freedom of the profession ought to be the freedom to decide how better results can be achieved. However, the results must be monitored."
Patrik Engellau. Photo: Cecila Larsson Lantz.
“The right incentives are necessary to reverse the negative trend and the profession is actually the only real resource for this purpose. Furthermore, we must abolish the idea that facts stand in the way of true understanding,” said Professor Magnus Henrekson, IFN.
He explained that while teachers in higher education are given more power over the education, the results of that education also need to be evaluated. Henrekson also dropped a bombshell: Wouldn’t it make sense to allow students to pay minimal fees for higher education?
Magnus Henrekson. Photo: Cecilia Larsson Lantz.
Professor Jens Schollin, principal at Örebro University, said no to fees but explained that the great value of the new book "is that it promotes academic education in a way that we need today." Schollin commended the authors for putting professionalism and collegiality in focus and that they emphasize that the institutions' main asset is the teachers.
Jens Schollin, Photo: Cecila Larsson Lantz.
Professor Ebba Witt-Brattström, University of Helsinki, explained that she is a refugee from the Swedish "university swamp".
“In Finland we have a lot of what is desired in this book: A strong educational profession, motivated students that come from a “school of knowledge” and are admitted by using entrance exams.
Witt Brattström agreed with the book's authors that a base year should be instituted at Swedish universities. She also pointed to the need for university teachers not only to teach but also do research.
Ebba Witt-Brattström. Photo: Cecila Larsson Lantz.
Ursula Berge, Head of social policy at Akademikerförbundet SSR (The Union for Professionals), said that the main problem is the erosion of funding for colleges and universities. Associate Professor Håkan Regnér, Saco, stated that quality should be evaluated to a much greater extent. He also suggested a focus on finding out why students choose a specific education and a certain college.
See the seminar on SVT Play
Read the book as pdf
Article about the book in Dagens Nyheter and the final line
Analytical article about the book in Axess magazine