Lund University does not have much to be pleased about in the government’s autumn budget. State Secretary Peter Honeth announced this on Friday morning.
In the government’s autumn budget, there are no investments in universities and research. The money available for education will be spent on primary and upper secondary school.
”The economy isn’t great right now, so there won’t be any new large sums of money for universities,” says Peter Honeth, State Secretary for the Minister of Education, Jan Björklund.
VIP-breakfast
Peter Honeth spent Friday morning in the pillar hall of the University House, where he presented the budget to several VIPs of Lund University, among them headmaster Per Eriksson. Without any new money, he spent a lot of time speaking about the current issues with education, for example the teacher training crisis.
”How the heck will we produce teachers for subjects like chemistry and modern languages? It doesn’t look promising there,” Peter Honeth opined, and presented how the teacher training will be revised with qualification tests and altered practice.
All doctoral candidates employed
The State Secretary also brought up the situation of doctoral candidates in the labour market, which he thought leaves much to be desired.
”It doesn’t work at all. A lot of young scientists spend year after year on appointments with time limits. This is where Swedish universities have the greatest difficulty.”
Peter Honeth said that universities will have to resolve the problem on their own. But he could give a vague promise.
”In the long run, all doctoral candidates should be employed.”
No new places in programs
Headmaster Per Eriksson has demanded 2000 additional places in educational programs for Lund University. This spring he got 100 new places, and in the autumn budget none at all. Peter Honeth says that Sweden is well equipped anyway.
”63 percent of the population will be able to start a post-secondary education. Of course that’s more than ever before,” Peter Honeth said.
”The number of places has been reduced by ten percent nationally, but I’m impressed by your use of rhetoric and statistics,” Per Eriksson said acidly.
Peter Honeth’s retort came quickly.
”Well, I was educated at Lund University.”
Text: Sebastian Hagberg
Photo: Satomi Miyata
