A Year with Tuition Fees Eva Åkesson

Vice-Chancellor Uppsala universitet

NUAS Conference on

Communication Challenges for Nordic Universities August 12-14, 2012

Significant increase of Non-EES students

Incoming freemovers to Sweden 2001-2011192821694

05000

100001500020000250003000035000

2001

/2002

2002

/2003

2003

/2004

2004

/2005

2005

/2006

2006

/2007

2007

/2008

2008

/2009

2009

/2010

2010

/2011

UnknownNon EESEES countries

Source: The Swedish Agency for Higher Education Services (VHS), www.vhs.se

Bologna process in Sweden New world – new University

•  700 new master programmes 2007 –  Approx 500 master

programmes in English

•  Few students first year •  Increasing every year

•  Approx 60% international students

Focus on knowledge - quality in higher education

”Absence of tuition fees more important than quality when international students chose Sweden for academic studies”

Source: p 7 "Konkurrera med kvalitet - studieavgifter för utländska studenter" Prop 2009/10:65, www.regeringen.se

Content of the Reform 2011 •  No governmental funding for Non-EES students

–  Decrease funding approx 500 million SEK 2013

•  Each university decides the price –  full cost covering but profit not allowed –  result EUR 7500– 36 000 / academic year

•  All studies at BA and MA requires fees, –  PhD education still without fees

•  For the first time stated in law that Higher Education for European Students shall be tuition free

•  … and introduction of Application Fee SEK 900

Some statistics -UU Admitted Freemovers at UU 2001-2011

Top 10 Countries

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2001

/2002

2002

/2003

2003

/2004

2004

/2005

2005

/2006

2006

/2007

2007

/2008

2008

/2009

2009

/2010

2010

/2011

China

India

Finland

Pakistan

Iran

Germany

Bangladesh

USA

Turkey

Russia

Some statistics - UU Admitted students to Master Programmes at UU

during 2010-2012, Top 10 non-EES countries

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

ht 2010 ht 2011 ht 2012

ChinaIndiaBangladeshEthiopiaUSAPakistanTurkeyTanzaniaKenyaRussia

National level, paid first installment per June 15, up 5% (2011 vs. 2012)

Source: Swedish National Agency for Higher Education "1350 nya tredjelandsstudenter har betalat studieavgifter inför höstterminen 2012" p4, June 27, 2012, www.hsv.se

Results – national level Students who paid the first installment

Small increase 2011-2012: + 5%

Decrease compared with academic year 2010/2011 with ~10 000 non-european students

2011 2012

1 280 1 350

Data from June 15

Threats/challenges

•  Reduced diversity in classroom •  Diminishing resources

–  fewer students - fewer programs

•  Reduced quality in research fewer qualified applicants for PhD-programs

Reduced quality in education as well as research eventually leads to less attractiveness for new bright students.

Threats/challenges

Application and admissions cycles not designed for the new situation. Demands: •  faster and more flexible •  designed for a competive situation •  operate with multiple intakes

Threats/challenges

• Slow and partly expensive visa process for applicants

• Hesitant and ambivalent approach towards students who wants to stay in Sweden after graduation

Result Badwill for Sweden as a study destination and missing opportunities to link up to a new vibrant, international generation of employees

Opportunities

• Clear political decision (even though many details remains unsolved)

• Sweden is ahead of some countries where a tuition fee reform is still under discussion

Opportunities

• Well known ”academic brands” • Well known ”commercial brands” (IKEA, Volvo, Ericsson, Skype)

Opportunites

• Safe, environmentally friendly, modern society with a functioning well fare state in function

• Price tag indicates higher quality than free offers

• Already attracting more students than the number of scholarships offered

Strategies at Uppsala University

Before

"…more concerned on how to limit the number of applications"

Strategies at Uppsala University

•  Excellence in Research and Education requires excellent international students

•  Internal work at Uppsala University to change mind-set among staff

•  Need for a more elaborated International Strategy

•  Raised awareness of Uppsala University as an “International Brand”

Strategies at Uppsala University

•  Development of a “country strategy” where UU wants to focus

•  Relate to areas of already established research and educational cooperation

•  Rethinking the programs offered

•  Strengthening the international alumni activities

•  Links in to the Pedagogical Program of UU and the need for further training of all staff

•  Develop strategies on how to use scholarship to promote recruitment of talented students

Remaining issues

• Need for tidying up after the reform, many issues on all levels needs adjustment to the new situation

• Need for a review of application – selection - admission processes

• Support organisation must be adjusted to a more competitive landscape

Remaining issues

• Reduce the application fee

• More scholarships, both private and public!

• Urgently adapt the Swedish regulations and facilitate participation in different external scholarship programs

• ….and act promptly, not with a delay of 1-2 years…or more…

Need for a lasting ”handshake” between universities and the private sector

If Swedish universities will continue providing national and global companies with qualified co-workers they need to get involved already during their studies by; •  internships • scholarships •  payed work during vacations • mentors •  introductory programmes • networking

and activly offering career opportunities after graduation

– as for all students!

”Foreign employees are good for Swedish business” Ewa Björling, Minister for trade, DN May 12, 2012

Many lessons left to learn…

• Experiences from first year not enough for any solid conclusions

• Tuition fee reform is much more than simply sending an invoice to non-European students registered for studies at Uppsala University

• The reform highlights the interdependence of academic, society/public and business sectors and the new context for international recruitment of talents to Sweden

Lots of challenges Lots of opportunities

•  Embedded in University strategy •  Need for dialogue between

government and universities •  No comprehensive national strategy •  No clear politics on immigration •  Sweden as a study destination

–  Europe, Nordic, Scandinavia, Uppsala? –  All?

Thanks for your attention!