ACEI recently offered a training webinar on Sweden. Its education system, with particular focus on upper secondary education.
The population is 9.7 million people. It is the 3rd largest EU country in land area, after France and Spain.
Sweden is one of the homelands of the Germanic ethnicity and culture. Around 2,000 years ago, the Svear people gave Sweden its name.
Sweden has a Parliamentary democracy. Sweden’s head of state since 1973 has been King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Sweden has the highest standard V.A.T. rate in the world which is 25%. Total taxation in Sweden amounts to 54.2 % of GDP, the highest level worldwide.
Lagom is an important and often-used word in Sweden. Meaning good enough, or just right, it sums up Swedish cultural and social ideals of equality and fairness.
The astronomical lens is a Swedish invention. The pacemaker, ultrasound, safety match, astronomical lens, marine propeller, refrigerator, and computer mouse are all famous items that were invented in Sweden or by Swedes who weren’t living in Sweden.
Sweden is set to become the first country in the world to phase out petroleum for biofuel. Sweden has the highest number of nuclear plants per capita, with 10 reactors for 9 million inhabitants.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for primary and secondary education as well as higher education with a few exceptions. The Swedish National Agency for Education is responsible for policy implementation and quality control concerning primary, secondary and adult education.
Nursery school is open to children from one to five years of age. Almost all children also attend non-compulsory primary school at the age of six.
Sweden has around 50 public and private universities and university colleges. Two of the oldest universities in Sweden are Uppsala University which was founded in 1477 and Lund University founded in 1666.
40% of Swedish women and 32% of Swedish men aged 25 to 64 participate in education or training. Sweden has the highest proportion of personal computers per capita in Europe, with 500 P.C.’s per 1,000 people.
The Swedes spend the longest time in tertiary education with an average student age of 25.5 years old. Swedish university students are required to pay a membership fee in the student union, but do not pay tuition.
The upper secondary level there are Folkhögskola (Folk High School) and Komvux (Municipal Adult School) which are for Adults (with some previous education & work experience and do not charge tuition. Corporal punishment in schools was banned in 1979.
Students who complete the Grundskola receive the Slutbetyg Från Grundskola(School Leaving Certificate). Student who complete the Gymnasia receive the Slutbetyg Från Gymnasieskola.
The 12-year elementary and secondary system is divided into 2 phases: primary education. Also, there is a system called senior secondary education (Gymnasia – 3 years of senior secondary school).
The academic year runs from August until June. There are also a small number of schools for the Saami minorities in the north of Sweden were classes are taught in Sammi.
The Swedish Council for Higher Education (Uiversitets- och Hogskoleradet) and the Swedish Higher Education Authority. Universitetskanslerambetet are responsible for higher education.
Sweden has an excellent reputation as a car-maker with Volvo and Saab. Scania trucks are also Swedish.
Sweden ranks second in Europe (after Finland) in terms of technological achievement. In 2012 the Swedish company Ericsson was the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile telecommunications networks, with 38% of global market share.
As of late 2012, Sweden had obtained 30 Nobel prizes, including 5 Peace prizes. This is the 5th highest number of laureates in the world, and the highest per capita ratio for any country with over 1 million inhabitants.
The Swedish maternity and paternity leave is one of the longest and most generous in the world, allowing the father and mother to take a shared total of 480 days (16 months) off at 77.6% of their salary.
A 2007 UNICEF report on child well-being in rich countries ranked Sweden as the best country. In terms of children’s material well-being, health and safety, and behaviors and risks are important.
Secular and open to all religions. The national church, the Church of Sweden, is Lutheran, but Catholicism and other Christian denominations are also. In 2006 Swedish people had the longest life expectancy in Europe (80.51 years).
Sweden has the smallest gender employment-rate gap in the developed world, with only 4% more men in employment than women. Sweden has the highest percentage of working mothers in the developed world, no less than 76% of them.
With 47% of female parliamentarians (in 2006). Sweden has the highest proportion of women lawmakers in the world.
Sweden is a member of the European Union, but has its own currency, the krona, or Swedish crown. In 1862, Sweden became the first country to grant suffrage for (married) women, although only for local elections.
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Swedish Vikings invaded and settled in parts of Eastern Europe as far as Constantinople and the Caspian Sea. In 1954, while excavating a Viking settlement in Sweden, archeologists found a Buddha statue from India.
Sweden is a country located in northern Europe that is part of the Scandinavian group of countries which includes Norway and Finland, with which it shares a border, and Denmark to which it is connected via a bridge and tunnel.
The country covers an area of approximately 450,000 square kilometers. The population of just over 10 million, it is the fifth largest country in Europe.
Stockholm has been the Swedish capital since 1523 and is spread across 14 islands. It is the country’s largest and most populated city.
Sweden has one of the lowest population densities in the world, of only 25.5 people per square kilometer. The majority (over 80%) live in urban areas that represent only 1.5% of the land area.
Sweden has a large moose population and it is generally thought that they roam freely through its woods, which is incorrect. With a population estimated to be between 300,000 and 400,000 strong.
Sweden has an unusual right for its people that is called ‘the freedom to roam’. It means that people have the right to access all public and private land that is not cultivated
Sweden is clearly a nature-lover’s paradise and aside from land that is held privately and by the state. There are over 29 national parks that feature its vast boreal forests, glaciers and mountains.
As well as its forests, Sweden has over 90,000 lakes and 3000 kilometers of coastline. Swedes are keen to protect their natural environment and the country is one of the cleanest and most progressive in the world when it comes to recycling and other environmental concerns.
Sweden is famous for many inventions, most notably, perhaps, for dynamite which was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1867. He was a chemist, engineer and businessman who held over 355 different patents during his lifetime.
Among Sweden’s more well-known inventions is the centigrade system for measuring temperature (units of degrees Celsius). It was created by Anders Celsius, a noted Swedish astronomer.
Sweden is also notable as the country with the oldest limited company in the world (Koppargravura AB founded in 1288). It holds the highest number of patents in the world.
While the Swedish engineering industry is still a major source of business for the country, pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are becoming more significant and the Swedish economy remains based on the export of its inventions and the ingenuity of Swedish inventors.
Each year the hotel is built to unique design and features the work of local artists. Interestingly, it is required by local ordinances to have a fire alarm system installed!
Sweden created the first pacemaker that regulates the beating of patients’ hearts. This was done in 1958 by Senning and Elmqvist.
The Swedish people are known for their kindness and generosity and there is evidence to prove it. Sweden is the only country in the world where private donations represent more than 1% of the country’s GDP.
Sweden is the sixth oldest country in Europe and its eighth oldest monarchy as well as being one of the oldest sovereign states in the world. It has been in existence as a sovereign state for over 1,000 years after being founded by Eric the Victorious in 970 AD.
Today Sweden has one of the highest living standards in the world mainly due to maintaining low unemployment. A strong welfare system and one of the highest life-expectancies in the world.
Sweden also leads in studies that measure gender equality in education, employment and political representation. In 2006, the EU ranked the country first in its report on gender equality.
Swedish people are known for their honesty and directness and visitors are advised to take note. They are non-judgmental people but they don’t like beating about the bush. Swedes also prioritize and respect each other’s privacy.
Ice hockey and football are Sweden’s main sports. Other popular sports include handball, golf, gymnastics, athletics and cross country skiing.
You can actually go to the beach in Sweden! The southern parts of the country feature picturesque, clean beaches and in summer the water is warm enough to swim in.
Another Swedish cultural export is the sauna. This involves sitting in a wooden room at high temperature (up to 90 degrees Celsius) where there is a lot of steam.
Officially known as the Kingdom of Sweden, it's a constitutional monarchy. While there's a king, the real political power lies in its parliamentary system.
Stockholm isn't just the capital and one of the most important cities in Sweden; it's one of Europe's fastest-growing cities. By 2024, it's estimated that the city will house 2.5 million people.
While Swedish is the official language, the country recognizes several minority languages, including Finnish, Yiddish, Sami, Meänkieli, and Romani. Plus, about 90% of Swedes speak English! Talk about Swedish culture facts!
Stockholm has its roots in the Viking Age which was founded around 1000 AD, it served as a significant trading hub and port city. Contrary to popular belief, Vikings weren't just raiders; they established vast trade routes.