“We can quickly offer targeted education”

Luleå University of Technology mobilises its resources to be able to offer those who are made redundant at Northvolt a quick transition. The University has initiated a collaboration with Northvolt and Skellefteå Municipality, both in northern Sweden.
“We want to take regional responsibility and do everything we can to help as many people as possible to stay and find new jobs here,” says Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Vice-Chancellor of Luleå University of Technology.

Following Northvolt’s announcement of giving notice to 1,600 people, of which 1,000 in Skellefteå, the Skellefteå Municipality, Region Västerbotten, the Västerbotten County Administrative Board, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and the Swedish Public Employment Service have mobilised enhanced collaboration to support people and try to identify new employment opportunities in the region.

Luleå University of Technology supports the regional mobilisation and started a close dialogue with Northvolt soon after the notice.

Birgitta Bergvall Kåreborn, Vice-Chancellor of Luleå University of Technology:
“We already have a dialogue with Northvolt and Skellefteå Municipality. They are our partners, and naturally, we want to provide support wherever we can in difficult times. We are working together to find out how we can meet the great need for transition that follows if these notices of termination of employment are realised. To a large extent, it is a matter of matching needs with skills developing programmes. We can offer a number of targeted training programmes on a short notice.”

Variety of educational programmes

Luleå University of Technology has a variety of educational programmes that can make a difference for those who need to adapt or improve their skills or increase their employability.

“We have 600 courses for professionals and 80 contract education programmes, so there are many options for those who want to pursue a new career. It's about offering them a chance to continue contributing to the green industrial transition. In some cases, this may involve training programmes lasting six months, in others a number of shorter courses so that they can match the needs of industry,” says Vice-Chancellor Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn.

Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn believes that there is still a great need for well-educated labour in both Norrbotten and Västerbotten, so Skellefteå’s goal that as many people as possible should stay in the regions is both responsible and strategic.

Great needs for skilled labour

“We know that the regions already today have great needs for skilled labour, needs that will increase in the coming years with all the current and planned industrial investments. In other words, there are strong reasons to do everything we can to keep those who have already moved here.”

“The major challenge is to be able to quickly match and adapt the skills of those who now need to find new jobs here in the region, but that is also exactly where we can contribute. We already have a strong presence in Skellefteå and many excellent partners,” says Bergvall Kåreborn, and adds:

“We all want the same thing; we want to help those who are at risk of being made redundant and ensure that those who have chosen to move here also will choose to stay”.

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