High initial standards and continuous evaluation guarantee quality in education. The government has accordingly instructed the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education (Högskoleverket) to evaluate all subjects and programs offered at universities and university colleges in Sweden.

This assessment is conducted every six years; as a result Sweden has one of the more ambitious evaluation programs in Europe.

An institution of higher education forfeits its right to confer degrees if it fails to meet specific quality requirements. This ensures that universities and university colleges invest time and resources to maintain and improve the quality of the education they provide.

Evaluation is a three-step process. First the institution assesses itself in accordance with procedures laid down by the Agency. Its findings are then evaluated by an external group of experts. Interviews are conducted with staff members on the basis of the initial report. Proposals for improvements are put forward and a few years later a follow-up assessment is carried out.

The Agency also canvasses the views of some 15,000 students as part of the process. The system is thus receptive to ideas for improvement arising out of institutional evaluations, as well as to suggestions put forward by the students themselves.

Photo: Tommy Westberg/Uppsala University