New Collaboration Strengthens Teacher Education in Northern Sweden

In a bid to secure the future supply of qualified teachers and preschool staff in northern Sweden, several universities have joined forces to launch a joint education initiative. Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, Mid Sweden University, the University of Gävle, and Dalarna University have signed a declaration of intent to collaborate on developing appealing and high-quality teacher and preschool teacher education programmes.

– Our collaboration strengthens the capacity to provide high-quality and attractive teacher education, and in turn, improves the chances of meeting the staffing needs in schools and preschools across northern Sweden. Working together is essential to maintaining long-term education programmes with a strong research framework. This is now achievable thanks to our combined expertise, said Birgitta Bergvall-Kåreborn, Vice-Chancellor of Luleå University of Technology.

Across Sweden universities have struggled to fill their teacher training places. The newly signed declaration outlines ambitions to broaden the range of subjects available to students and to establish joint programme planning, allowing students to move more freely between universities within preschool, primary, and secondary teacher training programmes. Shared staffing resources and a close link to ongoing research will also be central pillars of the collaboration.

– This initiative builds on earlier efforts to increase cooperation in teacher education. It’s exciting to be working across university boundaries to develop relevant and attractive programmes, and we hope this initial step will lead to strong synergies. By coordinating our programme planning, we can make more efficient use of our combined skills and resources, said Maria Johansson, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Health, Education and Technology at Luleå University of Technology.

One of the broader challenges facing schools across Sweden is the shortage of qualified teaching staff. According to the latest national forecast by the Swedish National Agency for Education, there will be a deficit of around 10,600 qualified teachers and preschool teachers by 2038. However, the projected shortfall varies significantly between teaching roles, with the most severe shortages expected in early years education, while some subject areas may see a surplus.

In December last year, a government inquiry into the future of teacher education published its report, proposing several changes. These include raising academic standards, reducing the number of degree objectives, and placing less emphasis on theoretical knowledge. One of the central recommendations was increased collaboration — a strategy already identified by the northern universities as crucial. A group with representatives from each university will now be formed to lead the initiative, alongside individual working groups based on programme to develop shared plans. The agreement will remain in effect indefinitely.