Future of higher education

The skills needed in the labour market are changing faster than ever. How can Swedish higher education evolve to remain relevant in the years ahead? This question is at te core of a research project conducted by the Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum and funded by the Knowledge Foundation.

About the project

The project “Hur kan svenska lärosäten möta ett föränderligt utbildningsbehov?” (“How can Swedish higher education respond to changing educational needs?”) examines how Swedish higher education has evolved over recent decades and explores possible paths forward. The work focuses on three areas: analysing the current higher education landscape and students’ educational journeys, strategies for how higher education institutions can respond to future skills needs, and exploring policy issues related to the governance, funding and regulatory framework of higher education.

Report: After the Expansion

In October 2026, the project published the report “Efter expansionen – den högre utbildningen och framtidens kompetensförsörjning” (“After the expansion: Higher education and the future of skills provision”). The report examines how the Swedish higher education sector has changed over recent decades and discusses the choices facing Swedish higher education in the years ahead.

Among other findings, the analysis shows that Swedish degree programmes have become increasingly specialised over time. The report also explores questions around the balance between depth and breadth in higher education, how learning can be delivered more flexibly, and how the education system can continue to adapt to meet future skills needs.