| 1. |
- Nilsson, Per A., 1957-, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of tuition fees on international student mobility in Sweden : a decade of reflection
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Entry points to US education. - Baltimore : STAR Scholars Press. - 9781957480404 - 9781957480329 ; , s. 268-283
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2009, the Swedish parliament introduced tuition for students outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. In 2011, the first feeypaying students arrived. Before the decision was made, industrial leaders, students, and representatives of higher education institutions had debated and questioned the decision. In this chapter, we reflect on the intervention of the introduction of tuition for postsecondary education in Sweden within a European contect. What were the experiences, impacts and development of student mobility 10 years after tuition was introduced? Did tuition turn out to be a serious mistake, or are the objectives fulfilled with the reform? A direct consequence was a decrease of 80% in the number of students in Sweden from outside the EEA and Switzerland. However, today, the number of students from outside Europe has increased, but the mix of students from different countries has changed. The analytical research of the chapter holds significance for policy making that affects entry points to education.
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| 2. |
- Nilsson, Per A., 1957-, et al.
(författare)
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International academic mobility in a time of security threats : policies and institutional adaptations to maintain the benefits of an open academy – the Swedish case
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Social Sciences & Humanities Open. - : Elsevier. - 2590-2911. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasingly, the extensive benefits of international academic networks, mobility and exchange have become linked with an awareness of the threats this also may imply. International student mobility has been a success story. The number of students has grown significantly in response to the globalisation of academic life. Generally, this has been seen as beneficial for the countries involved and especially for the cities where the students move. However, various attempts to get unauthorised access to critical sources and to knowledge, as well as to contest scientifically based conclusions with disinformation, have become a challenge for nations and higher education institutions (HEIs). In this study the increased number of international doctoral students in Sweden is examined, while we observe that the Swedish government, due to the rising conflict level in Europe and internationally, recently illustrated by the membership in NATO by Sweden, has initiated a review of its policies to enhance the awareness among HEIs of the risks that may be associated with international academic mobility. The US has long had an active policy involving various restrictions on academic immigration, so far this has not – at least not as an explicitly communicated policy – been the case in Sweden. Given this, the aim of the paper is to scrutinise the origin of doctoral students, identify countries from which the number of students has increased most and relate this to the risk profile those countries are given by the Swedish Security Service. Open and available data are retrieved from the Swedish Higher Education Authority. Our analysis of the ongoing transition in Sweden suggests that recruitment of international doctoral students will continue, since they are critical for the knowledge oriented small open economy, but it will increasingly be combined with a stronger focus on various security issues, as those have been identified by the government and communicated with the academic community and the managements of HEIs. Clearly, Sweden and its HEIs are in a phase of transition into a new environment. It will take time for the HEIs to find appropriate and reasonable measures, although other countries have discussed similar problems. We place the discussion regarding the benefits of international academic exchange in a context where HEIs also must consider the threats that may be associated with international academic mobility. We then highlight that sensitivity is needed in the choice of measures to reduce possible threats and risks.
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| 3. |
- Lundgren, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region : an introduction
- 2023
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Throughout history, transport infrastructure has played a crucial role inindustrialisation, economic growth and regional development and continues to do so. In recent decades, international trade, the growth potential of extended crossborder labour markets and new connections, such as the Öresund bridge (finalised in2000) and the Fehmarn Belt connection between Denmark and Germany (to beopened in 2029), have further increased interest in cross-border transportinfrastructure.This is the first report in the NORDINFRA project, aiming at increasing knowledge ofcross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region. The project covers four Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) and explores institutional and other challenges and opportunities associated with better and more coordinated cross-border transport infrastructure planning.NORDINFRA is a research project financed by the Swedish Transport Administration(Trafikverket) and run by Nordregio and Umeå University. Its research methods consist of literature and document studies as well as interviews with stakeholders.Three Nordic cross-border transport infrastructure case studies have been selected:a new fixed link between Sweden and Denmark, namely the Helsingborg–Helsingör road and rail tunnel; an improved railway connection between Stockholm and Oslo; and the road and ferry connection from Mo i Rana in Norway, via Umeå in Sweden, to Vasa in Finland.This report begins with an overview of the transport infrastructure planning systemsin Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, with a focus on the policy goals, the main actors and their responsibilities within the transport infrastructure planning system, central elements of the planning process, analytical tools and tools for impact analysis.Overall, we find many similarities between the Nordic countries, although there are also important differences. In terms of transport goals, all four countries share important commonalities in that they focus on efficiency, accessibility, sustainability, and safety – although the specific goals are formulated in different ways and with different emphases. We find that, to a large extent, the countries share the same timeframe when it comes to the planning period (Denmark 2021–2035, Finland2021–2032, Norway 2022–2033 and Sweden 2022–2033).These commonalities are positive and can be expected to facilitate the planning of cross-border transport infrastructure objects. The analysis of the countries’ national infrastructure and transportation plans shows that although Nordic cross-border transport is mentioned, the focus is primarily on national transport infrastructure that is not adjacent to a border. In all the countries, planning takes place via step-bystep, formalised processes, including impact assessments. Here, too, the similarities between the countries can be expected to increase the potential for cross-border collaboration.We also find similarities between the Nordic countries studied when it comes to the main actors involved in transport infrastructure planning. At national level, the relevant ministry holds the responsibility for transport infrastructure, along with one or several national authorities in the field. However, one important difference between the Nordic countries is that, according to the Danish and Norwegian public administration models, the national transport authorities have less independence from the transport ministry than the equivalent agencies in Sweden and Finland.In all of the countries, the regional councils are responsible for elaborating a regional development strategy and are frequently involved in public transportation. The municipalities are responsible for local physical planning but may also have other tasks relating to transport infrastructure, such as local roads, local public transport, ports and airports. Looking closer, the division of transport infrastructure tasks between different levels of government varies depending on the country, and there can sometimes be territorial differences within the country, too.However, a general pattern can be observed whereby actors at national level have overall responsibility for the national transport infrastructure system, whereas regional and local actors are endowed with specific tasks and responsibilities within the transport infrastructure system. In order to facilitate cross-border transport infrastructure planning it is important that those actors involved in cross-border transport infrastructure planning have knowledge about these differences between the countries and regions involved to be able to better understand the prerequisites for cross-border infrastructure planning and adapt to the circumstances involved.Although transport infrastructure planning primarily takes place within a national context, also the European Union plays an important role for cross-border transport infrastructure planning. A policy area of great importance is EU transport policy – for example, the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) which aims to link territories across the EU via a core network of corridors, of which the Scandinavian –Mediterranean (Scan-Med) and North Sea–Baltic corridors are most important for the Nordic countries. The EU’s policy for regional development and its Cohesion Policy are both central to cross-border collaboration – not least the Interreg A programmes, which are targeted at cross-border co-operation. Just as the EU regional development policy is connected to measures and financing mechanisms such as the Interreg, the implementation of EU transport policy is facilitated by, e.g.the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). While EU policies in the fields of regional development and transport support cross-border transport infrastructure planningin the Nordic Region, it is less evident to what extent Nordic co-operation supports cross-border transport infrastructure planning. Even though the national transport authorities are involved in knowledge-sharing networks (e.g. Nordisk Vejforum, and NJS – Forum for Nordisk Jernbanesamarbeid), since the dissolution of the Council of Ministers for Transport in 2005, there has been a lack of a Nordic political platform to discuss cross-border transport infrastructure.Previous research and literature show that cross-border transport infrastructure faces challenges in many different fields. Challenges relating to governance involve, for example, many stakeholders at different levels of government. Economic challenges may relate to, for example, only calculating benefits on one side of a national border or increased costs due to higher insecurity. Among the legal and administrative challenges, we find conflicting laws and regulations; and among the political challenges, a lack of political interest or the risk of altering the balance of power between countries or within a country. Other challenges may relate to differences in technology, calculation models or language.However, research literature and previous findings also highlight opportunities to overcome those challenges. These include establishing clear common goals, promoting transparency, working with relevant stakeholders and ensuring their commitment, allocating benefits and risks, and promoting effective governance.
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| 4. |
- Lundgren, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Facilitating cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region
- 2023
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Denna rapport är den andra rapporten i forskningsprojektet. Institutionella hinder och möjligheter tillsamordning (Nordic Transport infrastructure planning. Institutional barriers andopportunities for coordination) (2021–2023). Syftet med NORDINFRA är att öka kunskapen om gränsöverskridande transportinfrastruktur i Norden genom att identifiera hinder för gränsöverskridande transportinfrastruktur, peka påmöjligheter och föreslå åtgärder för att underlätta planering av gränsöverskridande transportinfrastruktur. Projektet, som har finansierats av Trafikverket, har letts av Nordregio, och genomförts av forskare från Nordregio och Umeå universitet.I den första rapporten, "Cross-border transport infrastructure planning in the Nordic Region - An introduction" (2023) gavs en bakgrund och fördjupning av hur gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering bedrivs inom ramen för de olika planeringssystemen i Danmark, Finland, Norge och Sverige, samt vilken roll den nordiska och EU-kontexten spelar. Den här andra och sista rapporten i projektet bygger på empiri från intervjuer i tre fallstudier av infrastrukturprojekt i tidiga skeden; den fasta HH-förbindelsen mellan Helsingborg och Helsingör, järnvägsförbindelsen Stockholm–Oslo, och länken från Mo i Rana, via Hemavan och Umeå, över Kvarken till Vasa. I intervjuerna med intressenter från fallstudieprojekten har vi ställt frågor om hur de ser på formella och informellahinder för gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering, och hur dessa hinder skulle kunna överbryggas. De båda rapporterna är komplementära. Precis som skrivbordsstudierna i den första rapporten visade, bekräftar intervjuerna att gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering involverar många aktörer på olika administrativa nivåer, från ministerier och transportmyndigheter på den nationella nivån, till regioner, kommuner, gränsöverskridande organisationer, privata företag och lobbygrupper. Intervjuerna visar också att den nationella nivån och regeringarna har en särskilt central roll då dessa i stor utsträckning sätter ramarna och på så sätt påverkarde övriga aktörernas agerande. Även om våra resultat visar stora utmaningar för gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering, har vi även fått exempel på framgångsrika planeringsinsatser och förslag på åtgärder för att ytterligare utveckla transportplaneringen över nationsgränserna. Utmaningarna har sammanfattats i sju nyckelområden:Att acceptera att gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering är komplextAtt ha förståelse för att den nationella planeringen förtransportinfrastruktur har en nyckelrollAtt hantera bristen på tydliga uppdrag och mandat för gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplaneringAtt systematiskt dela information och kunskap omtransportinfrastrukturplaneringAtt beakta att gränsöverskridande transportinfrastruktur när allt kommer omkring är en fråga om prioritieringarAtt involvera regionala och andra intressenter i den gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplaneringenAtt lära hantverket om hur man samarbetar kring gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplaneringDen främsta potentialen för att förbättra gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplanering i Norden är beroende av att de nationella regeringarna i högre grad prioriterar det nordiska politiska samarbetet inom transportinfrastruktur. För att utveckla det nordiska samarbetet kring transportinfrastruktur, ska vikten av tydliga mandat och uppdrag inte underskattas. Även om regioner, kommuner, gränsöverskridande organisationer och andra aktörer är viktiga kan de inte ersätta de nationella myndigheternas centrala roll.Genom att skapa en gemensam nordisk kunskapsbas om transportflödena i det nordiska transportsystemet, transportsystemets funktionssätt och om hur investeringar i transportinfrastruktur i ett land påverkar flödena i de andra nordiska länderna, skulle den samlade kunskapsnivån kunna höjas. Denna skulle också kunna fungera som en gemensam nordisk plattform för kunskaps- och erfarenhetsutbyte som bas och för att utveckla strukturer för fördjupat samarbete kring bl.a. gemensamma analysverktyg. Sammantaget bedöms dessainsatser kunna bidra till att underlätta den nordiska gränsöverskridande transportinfrastrukturplaneringen och till att utveckla ett transportsystem som gynnar de nordiska länderna och Norden som helhet.
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| 5. |
- Simonen, Jaakko, et al.
(författare)
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The COVID-19 pandemic and regional economic resilience in northern Finland, Norway, and Sweden – bouncing back or not?
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Arctic Yearbook. - : University of the Arctic Thematic Network (TN) on Geopolitics and Security. - 2298-2418. ; , s. 251-274
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic has been first and foremost a health crisis, but it has also had severe negative impacts on the global economy. It has shaken regional economies, especially labour markets, over the last two years. Arctic regions are no exception. The aim of this article is to analyse the regional economic impacts, as well as the recovery processes, of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Arctic 5 cities in Northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway (Oulu and Rovaniemi in Finland, Luleå and Umeå in Sweden and Tromsø in Norway).In many countries, including Finland, Sweden and Norway, governments decreed various types of lockdown policies to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to such policies, the pandemic has had an asymmetrical impact not only on individuals but also on communities and regions. This has given new urgency to a place-based approach to regional development, mitigating territorial inequalities. Our goal is to study how hard the Arctic 5 cities have been hit by the COVID-19 shock and how well they have been able to absorb, adapt to and recover from the crisis. The research question thus focuses on the resilience of the regions.In this study, we focus on the analysis of public statistics concerning the development of labour markets. We also analyse changes in human behaviour during the pandemic using the information provided by Google Mobility data. These mobility data and labour market indicators are used to measure regional economic and social resilience. Our research shows that, for example, regional socioeconomic structures have played an important role in how well the regions have been able to withstand the pandemic and recover from it. Differences in national containment regulations have also affected this development. These cross-border comparisons provide information on how well different measures in different regions across national borders have functioned and what impacts they have had on regional economies, especially on labour markets and people’s mobility.
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| 6. |
- Westin, Lars, Professor, 1953-
(författare)
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The green industry of Northern Sweden : will the boom also build growth?
- 2023. - 1
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Ingår i: Industrial location and vitalization of regional economy. - Singapore : Springer. - 9789811981272 - 9789811981289 ; , s. 95-115
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Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Currently, Northern Sweden faces a phase of new industrialisation. Large "green" industrial projects are located or planned to be initiated in the region. Attractors are a reliable supply of green energy, land for large establishments and social as well as political stability. Initially, the actors are factories for the production of batteries and fossil-free steel, but also bitcoin mines, data server halls, etc. have been established. Following are consultants, real estate actors, architects, planners etc. In this respect, the green "reindustrialisation" has the potential to change the relatively slow growth in the region. The first long wave of industry ended in the 1970s, in a process that involved many elements of a "resource curse". In the paper, after a presentation of facts, visions and narratives connected with this change, we analyse the economic background and forces behind the stagnation. We ask if the region have the insights and leadership that may exploit the situation and move the region on to a path of growth? Labour and housing are needed, but the region must also develop institutions, narratives and habits that will keep and attract a broader set of assets. Legislation, policy and narratives at national and European levels are other obstacles for growth.
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| 7. |
- Westin, Lars, Professor, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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The Swedish debate on tuition fees for international students in higher education
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of interdisciplinary studies in education. - : Open Journals in Education (OJED). - 2166-2681 .- 2690-0408. ; 12:2, s. 281-303
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2009, the Swedish parliament decided to introduce tuition fees for students fromoutside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. The first tuitionstudentsarrived in 2011. A direct consequence was a decrease by 80 percent ofincoming students. The decision by the lawmakers was debated and questioned bybusiness leaders, students, and representatives for higher education institutions(HEI). In this reflection paper, we present the most common issues in that debateand reflect on those arguments ten years after tuition fees were introduced. Thedebate in Sweden prior to the reform and the following development represents aninteresting case that illustrates some of the dynamics of international studentmobility and the impacts this may have on HEI.
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| 8. |
- Nilsson, Per A., 1957-, et al.
(författare)
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Ten years after : reflections on the introduction of tuition fees for some international students in Swedish post-secondary education
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Education Inquiry. - : Routledge. - 2000-4508.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2011, Sweden introduced tuition fees for students from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland when they enrolled at higher education institutions (HEIs). As a direct consequence, the number of students in Sweden from those countries decreased by 80% that year. Since then, the number of students has increased again and, before COVID-19, was on its way to reaching the same level as before 2011. Nevertheless, the number of tuition fee-paying students only dropped by 3% for the academic year 2020/21, after nine consecutive years of growth. In this article we are assessing changes in inbound student flows and compare the outcome with the ambitions expressed by the Swedish government when the fees were introduced. The introduction of tuition fees in Sweden and the experiences from this offer quite unique possibilities to learn how students, HEIs, other actors, and societies react and adapt. By use of previous studies and new empirics we analyse and reflect on the outcome given the motives behind the reform, especially with regard to the ambition to continue internationalising post-secondary education and, furthermore, on the reform’s possible benefits and costs for post-secondary education in Sweden.
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| 9. |
- Westin, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
-
NÄRTRANS : hastighetsgränser och näringslivets nya transportflöden
- 2022
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Trafikverket har under ett antal år arbetat med metoder för att studera konsekvenser av förändrade hastighetsgränser i vägnätet. I tidigare arbeten har fokus framför allt varit på effekter för personresor, såsom arbetspendling och tillgång till olika former av service. Mindre fokus har lagts på näringslivets transporter då de aktuella hastighetsjusteringarna till stor del inte bedömts ha samma påverkan på fordon med totalvikt som överstiger 3,5 ton.Samtidigt har under 2000-talet näringslivets transporter genomgått betydande förändringar. I en traditionell uppdelning av fordonsflottan antogs näringslivet använda medeltunga och tunga lastbilar medan hushåll och organisationer använde personbilar. Med en tung lastbil menas fordon som har en totalvikt som överstiger 3,5 ton. Dessa får köra högst 90 km/timmen på motorväg eller motortrafikled och 80 km/timmen på annan väg eller om lastbilen har släp. Baserat på dessa regler har konsekvenserna för näringslivet av sänkta hastighetsgränser ned till 80 km/h bedömts som små.Idag har ”en tredje kategori” av lätta lastbilar, budbilar, pickuper, servicebilar mm, med en vikt under 3,5 ton, vuxit fram, fordon som i allt större omfattning används av näringslivet och som därmed följer trafikföreskrifter, t.ex. hastighetsgränser, för personbilar. Denna kategori av fordon är bland annat vanliga hos företag och verksamheter inom t.ex. distribution, mindre bygg- och underhållsverksamhet, fastighetsskötsel, offentlig service, omsorg, hälsovård och handel.Syftet med denna rapport är att undersöka hur den växande ”tredje kategorin” av näringslivets fordon kan identifieras och urskiljas i statistiken samt hur dessa fordon hanteras i Trafikverkets nuvarande modellsystem. I rapporten undersöks och ges förslag på fortsatt metodutveckling för att analysera vilka effekter trafiksäkerhetshöjande hastighetssänkningar kan medföra för olika delar av näringslivet i en region.
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| 10. |
- Westin, Lars, Professor, 1953-
(författare)
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Flytta Campus till Skellefteå City
- 2022
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Ingår i: Norran. - Skellefteå : Norr Media AB. - 1103-9752. ; , s. 14-14
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Recension (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Det är glädjande att stadsbyggande i Skellefteå nu tagit fart. Staden står efter ett tioårigt arbete väl rustat för en fastighetsmarknadsdriven tillväxt. De konstlade motsättningar som odlats mellan utveckling i centrum och i mindre tätorter/landsbygder har försenat processen, men verkar avklarade. Skellefteå kan fokusera på möjligheter och bidra till Norrlands utveckling. Slentrian och obsoleta strukturer bör ifrågasättas. Ett angeläget tema är stadens förhållande till högre utbildning. När det gäller utbildningen och forskningens lokalisering krävs nytänkande. Campus Skellefteå representerar dåtidens mode, ett amerikanskt campus; en isolerad yta, ofta utanför stadscentra. Umeå och speciellt Luleå universitet är tydliga exempel på det modet. Misstaget blev snart uppenbart. Kostnader och problem har uppstått när universiteten ska integreras med städerna och deras centra. Man vill närma studenter och forskare till företag och offentlig verksamhet. Man vill låta fler verksamheter nyttja universitetets faciliteter. Men även låta universitetet nyttja och bidra till stadens övriga mötesrum. Den moderna stadens centra får mindre handelsytor och mer mötesplatser. Ett sådant stadscentrum berikas av studenter. Vancouver och New York eller Hagastaden i Stockholm är exempel, men bör inte kopieras. Det moderna universitetet behöver även närhet till kommunikationer. Campus bör därför flyttas in i city; nära bussar, Norrbotniabanan och möjligheter för drönare och eVTOLs att landa. Det ger gångavstånd till centrums mötesplatser, hotell, restauranger och Sara kulturhus. Närhet till Lasarettet ger en grund för vårdutbildning och medicinsk forskning. I förnyelsen av området runt Södra Järnvägsgatan bör därför utbildningens och forskningens lokalbehov ges prioritet. Med en grund i ett bra läge och stimulerande gestaltning kan en attraktiv plats för kunskap skapas, där studenter och forskare trivs, berikar och inspireras av staden Skellefteå.
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