Innovation from the polar circle to New Zealand: Swedish data model tackles global skills challenge
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Martin Bergvall, director of Akademi Norr.
Swedish researchers are presenting a groundbreaking approach to skills supply at the ICDE World Conference in Wellington next week – a data-driven model developed by twelve municipalities near the polar circle that has succeeded where national agencies failed.
Martin Bergvall, director of Akademi Norr, and university lecturer Ulf Hedestig from Umeå University are showcasing how remote communities can collaborate to break geographical boundaries and create effective, data-driven education planning.
"We have created the foundation that national actors like Sweden's Employment Service and Statistics Sweden failed to create," says Ulf Hedestig. "Through collaboration, we've found ways to offer flexible learning for larger areas instead of each municipality struggling alone."
From challenge to solution
Akademi Norr brings together twelve rural municipalities near the polar circle facing common challenges: raising education levels and securing future skills supply. In 2020, they decided to develop their own model rather than wait for external help.
"We have shown that it's possible to work long-term, data-driven, and strategically in remote areas. Together we become strong and agile – what is difficult for a single small municipality becomes possible through collaboration," says Martin Bergvall.
Their data collection model provides real foundations for decisions, instead of relying on national statistics where small municipalities' needs remain invisible.
Looking ahead
The researchers hope the conference will spark exciting new international collaborations. "Being here in Wellington is a unique opportunity to make contacts and be inspired by open and distance learning actors beyond those we usually reference. My dream is to visit innovative countries like South Korea, which transformed from low education levels to become a global innovation leader, and learn from their approaches," says Martin Bergvall.
The model is now being further developed in the project Operational Skills Supply, in collaboration with the Transition Fund and Umeå University.
About ICDE World Conference
The world's leading international event for Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. This year: 120 accepted presentations from 387 applications, with around 1,000 participants from 95 countries.
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