Higher University Tuition in the UK. What about Sweden?

Who benefits from University education? The student or society? The Financial Times and The Times writes today about a report from Lord Browne, a former executive at BP, that suggests that government can save £1.8bn on the reform which lifts the cap on tuition fees from the present £3,290 per year. The average tuition fee is estimated to rise to about £7,000 per year. The government is looking positively at the report but has not yet accepted it.

What would happen is that the future generation, ie the students, is going to pick up the tab for their education to a higher degree. The National Union of Students criticized the report for this. However, one columnist claims that this, like in the US, makes students more motivated and creates a better work ethic. This would be a critique against the Swedish system of free University tuition. It was also claimed that the students can demand more from the teachers if they pay themselves and would also be able to demand what courses that should be taught. Universities would also become more autonomous.

In order to not force graduates to move selectively into higher paying jobs, there is going to be repayment brackets of about £21,000. If the graduate earns less they don't have to start repaying and if there is something left on the loan after 30 years it will be donated.

An alternative funding mechanism for University studies that is being discussed is a so called graduate tax, ie a taxation of the graduate at work, tied to their earning potential. It is being promoted by for example the Liberal Democrat Vince Cable who is presently a business secretary. This mechanism would not have the quality increasing potential as the present proposal by Lord Browne. Some students would also pay back more that the cost of their education with this method.

The implementation of the reform would mean a free-market revolution in higher learning provision according to The Financial Times. Perhaps a similar change in Sweden would provide the vitamins needed for further improving University education. There would also be more competition between Universities that would lead to increased standards. Having paid for your education yourself to a higher degree must make students more serious about what they are doing and cause responsibility for their lives.

The basis for selection in school to the university?

There is a revealing article today på DN.se which was also discussed with the School Minister Jan Björklund present in Studio 1, on radio P1.

There are things I don't know about this game because Björklund suggested the remedy that they should test school habits in grading student against double checked national tests and then send in the police, i.e., Skolinspektionen.

Why not let the schools grade however they please and instead, like in the US where they have all kinds of schools, use the SAT score for selection into the university? No policing and the university get the students that are most prepared and able.

There is a Högskoleprov in Sweden. How does this relate to the SAT? It only is an additional mean of entering university. Used as a second chance. It must be better to use a yearly national test than using grades. Then schools can compete and we will see evolving good schools which produce kids that do well in university.

Education level in Sweden Compared with that in the USA

It is of course of interest to know whether or not we have reached the maximum possible education in the West or not. The following data gives an indication of that it might still be possible to push the population to a higher educational level.

According to SCB.se 22% of Swedes, aged 25-64, have at least three years of post-gymnasial education, i.e., the college level. In the US 19% have a college degree, Bachelor, according to the Census bureau for age 25 and over 2008 and 7.5% have a Master degree, 1.5% a Professional degree and 1.3% a Ph.D. Obama's proposed extra 5m college graduates, via the community college system,would turn the figure to 22%.

There has been a significant increase in the numbers of people with at least three years of post-gymnasial education the last ten years from 14% to 22%. The increase depends on an expansion of the education system and on demographics. My guess is that the American level of college graduates have been stable during this time. In the age group 25-34, 31% have more than three years of post-gymnasial education so the total is going to increase as time passes by.

It would be strange if Sweden, which is a more homogenous country than the US, couldn't reach higher numbers which also seems to be the case. However, there is a significant entry of educated foreigners in the US that might offset people mired in poverty.

If a Swede wants to bask a little in his own glory, I can recommend the article: Sverige hyllas för kreativitet på DN.se 2006.