Engineering education in Sweden has a very
long history. The first schools were started in the 17th
century. These were mostly focused on mining and metallurgy, the
first traces on industry in the country.
By the beginning of the 19th century, two science based
schools of engineering were founded. These were the Royal Institute
of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology, which have
had a considerable impact on Swedish industry and they are still
the two most important engineering institutions in Sweden. Companies
like Electrolux, Ericsson, Asea (one of the constituent parts of
ABB), SKF and Volvo, not to mention mining industries, pulp &
paper companies and ship yards, all have their roots in the advanced
engineering education at various times throughout the last 200 years.
Today there are seven institutions of higher education that offer
education programmes leading to the degree "civilingenjor",
the degree recognised by industry and academia as equivalent to
a Master of Science degree. These programmes are all connected to
advance research and provide the graduates with an analytical approach
to engineering problems. Some 5000 new students are admitted each
year. The population of Sweden has just passed 9 million.
The two old universities of technology and the five faculties of
engineering at Swedish universities have research profiles and engineering
curricula which are strongly linked to basic sciences. There has
been a continuous debate on whether the education and research should
be more adjusted to immediate industrial needs. Recent development
has resulted in the establishment of several engineering colleges
throughout the country. These colleges focus on applied engineering
and they provide programmes of three years duration. Today there
are some 20 institutions offering this kind of programme in which
more than 6000 students start each year.
Foreign students may be admitted to engineering programmes in Sweden,
but for most of these students the language is an obstacle. Therefore,
programmes in English are introduced at some institutions, e.g.
the international Master’s programmes at Chalmers University
of Technology, the Royal Institute of Technology and the University
of Linköping. An increasing number of students from other countries
also participate in the education as a part of various exchange
activities and there is an international exchange of researchers
and teachers. Engineering education and research in Sweden is not
only keeping up with international standards, it is also becoming
more accessible to students from abroad. Foreign scholars have always
found their ways to Swedish institutions of higher education and
research.
Author: Dr. Jörgen Sjöberg, International Relations
Manager, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (Gothenburg),
Sweden
This article first appeared in Studying Abroad (WW4)
