23 June 2026
Luleå University of Technology joins national graduate school for nurses
Luleå University of Technology is becoming part of a new national graduate school for registered nurses and specialist nurses. The initiative aims to strengthen practice-based research and provide more nurses with the opportunity to combine clinical work with doctoral studies.
The graduate school is coordinated by Umeå University and carried out in collaboration with several higher education institutions across Sweden, including Luleå University of Technology. In total, the Government has decided to fund five national research schools in this area.
For Luleå University of Technology, the initiative provides new opportunities to strengthen practice-based research and further develop the research foundation of nursing education programmes.
"We are delighted to be part of this practice-based graduate school. The initiative enables research that strengthens research-informed learning environments, can contribute to evidence-based care and support long-term workforce development in northern Sweden. Collaboration between universities and healthcare providers also creates excellent opportunities for knowledge exchange, research and development," says Åsa Engström, Professor and Head of Subject in Nursing at Luleå University of Technology.
Strengthening the link between research and healthcare
The aim of the initiative is to strengthen the connection between research, education and clinical practice. Through the graduate school, more nurses and specialist nurses will be able to undertake doctoral studies while retaining their employment within the healthcare sector.
The graduate schools are funded through the Government’s Research and Innovation Bill. A total of SEK 20 million has been allocated to the five graduate schools for 2026, with planned funding increasing to SEK 40 million per year in 2027 and 2028.
The Government has also announced an initiative to establish so-called VFU nodes to strengthen collaboration between universities, regions and healthcare providers regarding clinical placements within healthcare education.
National graduate schools for registered nurses and specialist nurses
The Government has decided to fund five national graduate schools coordinated by Umeå University, Uppsala University, Örebro University, the University of Gothenburg and Malmö University. Luleå University of Technology participates, together with Mid Sweden University, in the graduate school led by Umeå University.
More information about the initiative (in Swedish).
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