Sweden's Newly Appointed University Chancellor at the National Agency for Higher Education: "Sweden Has Too Many Universities". (August 6, 2007)

    It is the opinion of Anders Flodström, the newly appointed University Chancellor at Sweden's National Agency for Higher Education (Högskoleverket) that Sweden's fourteen state-run universities should pared down to a more manageable five.

A professor of physics and President (vice-chancellor) of Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology Professor Flodström took on his new and highly influential position with respect to tertiary education earlier this northern summer.

The Chancellor is of the opinion that consolidation is required if Sweden's tertiary sector is to produce professionals and researchers capable of competing with those in the United States or emerging nations such as China. And he points out that universities in Denmark and Finland have already begun moving in this direction.

Sweden's The Local reports: "'I don't see a need for more universities, I see a need for fewer," he told news agency TT. As an example, he noted that the Norrland region could be better served by one university rather than today's three. 'Such a university would also be a strong actor on a European or a global market,' he said. In total he would like to see no more than five universities nationwide: one in the south, one in the west, one in the Linköping/Norrköping region, one for Stockholm and the central Mälardalen region and, finally, one in Norrland."

Just how far the Chancellor will be able to implement his vision remains to be seen.  So far there is no indication of the path he intends to follow or the time frame he has/will set, but it is likely that he will strike stubborn resistance from within the sector.