Startpage for Swedish National Agency for Higher Education

 
 

2003:35 R

Commissioned Education - a guide

Commissioned Education is an important matter for students who stipulate that it must never adversely affect basic undergraduate education. This stipulation is also embodied in the state ordinance on commissioned education. For their part the powers that be have high expectations that commissioned education will increase and function as an instrument that strengthens the role of higher education in lifelong teaching. Properly used commissioned education has shown itself to have many positive effects, i.a., with regard to basic undergraduate education.

In its supervisory capacity, the National Agency for Higher Education has observed that the manner in which the universities and university colleges (collectively designated herein as institutes of higher education) have handled commissioned education is not always in conformity with pertinent areas of the agency´s regulatory framework. Often the agency is asked questions by higher education staff working with commissioned education on how the regulatory framework should be interpreted and many have sought clarification from the agency with regard to some specific areas.

In its guide on commissioned education, which is based on material and views procured from institutes of higher education, the National Agency for Higher Education shows how the ordinance statutes for commissioned education can be interpreted. The guide also includes examples of how these statutes the various institutes of higher education interpret.

First the National Agency for Higher Education briefly gives a background resumé of the reports and statements made in recent years on this subject. This is followed by, among others, tips on what is contained in agreements and guide lines. Questions, for example, about who the commissioning bodies may be; also taken up is information on those who mediate the commissioned education or collaborate with other educator providers. Finally touched on are matters related to fees, university course certificates and the advantage in having them with regard to further education.

Swedish National Agency for Higher Education  Visting address: Luntmakargatan 13  Box 7851, 103 99 Stockholm
Phone: 08-563 085 00  Fax: 08-563 085 50  Email: hsv@hsv.se