Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden
The importance of digital skills is growing in Sweden, Europe and globally. To meet this need, the European Commission has launched a Skills Agenda for Europe where the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition is one of ten actions. Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden is the Swedish contact point within the framework of this initiative. Today, 24 organizations are part of #DigitalSkillsSweden.
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition aims to bring together all the good forces in the Union to promote digital skills. Each Member State organizes itself in the form of national coalitions, where stakeholders involved in promoting digital skills in one way or another come together and act together in national coalitions.
In the next EU budget, the European Commission has proposed to invest €9.2 billion in the new Digital Europe program, of which €700 million has been earmarked for advanced skills development with a particular focus on High Performance Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.
In addition, the Connecting Europe Facility programme plans to fund an EU-level platform supporting innovative actions to boost digital skills in Europe. This platform will be linked to the activities and websites of the national coalitions.
Read more about the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Here.
Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden
On May 3, 2018, the Swedish Coalition was established. The activities were launched on January 29, 2019 and are led by a project manager through the following action plan.
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden network has grown in a short time. More and more organizations realize the value of working together to solve Sweden's digitalization challenges. Today, 24 organizations participate in the Swedish network. Read more about which organizations are participating, further down the page. Read about their good initiatives to promote digital competence in both breadth and excellence.
The overall aim of the coalition work in Sweden is to highlight good examples of actors to promote digital literacy, but the network also organizes and coordinates joint activities to highlight the national need for different types of digital literacy in the following four areas:
Digital skills across the education chain - Digital skills in education
Digital employee skills - Digital skills for labor force
Digital excellence - Digital skills for ICT Professionals
Digital citizenship skills - Digital skills for all
IT&Telecom companies contact point for Sweden
IT&Telekomföretagen has taken on the task of coordinating the Swedish coalition. This is in the context of securing the skills supply of experts, but also to promote digitization so that all citizens have the knowledge needed. Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden also constitutes a national joint party in relation to the EU and other international actors.
Press release #1/190129: Sweden establishes coalition to promote digital skills
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden is now launched. The initiative is an extension of the European initiative, Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, which aims to promote digital development and skills within the EU and its Member States.
- Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden is a step in the right direction to ensure that Sweden will continue to be at the forefront of digitization, says Fredrik von Essen, industrial policy expert in skills supply, IT&Telecom companies.
There are already a large number of Swedish actors working in the field of digital skills. The overall goal of the coalition work is to give all these actors a joint boost to develop the digital skills of citizens and secure the supply of skills in Sweden.
- It is a fact that digital skills are lacking. The coalition aims to increase digital skills in several sectors of society and industries, as the need for this permeates the entire society," says Fredrik von Essen.
Read the full press release here.
Press Release #2/190320: Fast growing network promotes digital literacy in Sweden
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden network has grown in a short time. More and more organizations realize the value of working together to solve Sweden's digitalization challenges.
- The rapidly growing network is an acknowledgement of many stakeholders' concerns about the low level of digital skills in society and about the narrow debate on Sweden's digitalization. I see increased digital skills as one of the keys to an equal society and an inclusive labor market," says Malin Påhls Hansson, Project Manager Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden.
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition Sweden is the Swedish part of a larger initiative at EU level. Compared to other Member States, Sweden has been slow to coordinate society's actors around the digitization challenge. If Sweden is to achieve the goal of the government's digitalization strategy - to become the best in the world at using the opportunities of digitalization - this must be done on an equal and inclusive basis.
- We want to see clear policy reforms that ensure digital skills for all citizens in an accessible and inclusive way - throughout the education chain, throughout working life, until old age. The need for lifelong learning does not end after graduation," said Malin Påhls Hansson.
Read the full press release here.
Press release #3/231013: Launch of platform to promote digital literacy
Today TechSverige launches the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, Sweden - a unique platform that is part of a comprehensive EU initiative to promote digital skills and inclusion in Sweden and across Europe. The platform will be the central hub for anyone looking for knowledge exchange or information on activities, initiatives and training with the aim of strengthening their own or others' digital skills. Sweden is one of 21 EU Member States to have launched its national platform.
"The Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, Sweden, is a gathering point for anyone who wants to find inspiration, good examples and experiences about many of the initiatives being taken, in Sweden and Europe, to promote digital skills. The platform also makes it possible to stay updated on the latest activities, trainings and funding opportunities in the field. By bringing together citizens, non-profit organizations, businesses and policy makers on the platform, the ambition is to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- We are pleased to present the Swedish platform and many of the impressive efforts that are already being made to promote digital inclusion and strengthen digital skills in society. A significant challenge we face today is that information about different initiatives is often scattered between different actors, which can risk preventing and delaying digital development. By gathering these initiatives on the platform, we increase the possibility of knowledge exchange, partnerships and innovation," says Ana Andric, industrial policy expert in skills supply at TechSverige.
Together with stakeholders in the Digital skills and jobs coaliation, TechSverige has driven the development of the Swedish platform. Now we invite everyone who is interested to explore the Digital skills and jobs platform, Sweden and get involved and contribute to the work of promoting digital skills.
The platform was presented during a webinar organized by TechSverige, in connection with the national theme day Digitalidag. The event was attended by Ana Andric, Industry Policy Expert, TechSverige, Lina Cronquist, Project Manager, Digitalidag, Anna Broeders, Talent & Community Manager, Linköping Science Park, Robin Vetter, Community Manager, The Swedish Internet Foundation and Josef Lannemyr, Project Manager, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
Watch the broadcast afterwards here: https://youtu.be/LAYjRzNmdeo?si=RqKx5eHgYaIaGyqs
Visit the platform here: https://digitalskillsjobs.se/
Press release #4/240220: Societal development requires investment in digital excellence
During a well-attended seminar in Näringslivets Hus, important questions were raised about Sweden's and the tech industry's growing need for tech skills. The event, which was organized with a focus on the latest report from TechSverige, highlighted an urgent need for specialists in tech - with a forecast that points to an annual need for 18,000 specialists by 2028. Skills in AI and cybersecurity were particularly highlighted.
- It is critical that we act now to ensure the supply of skills and that the tech industry continues to contribute to the Swedish economy, welfare and climate transition," said Ana Andric.
The panel consisted of representatives from TechSverige's member companies who discussed the challenges and measures required to strengthen the supply of skills.
Ana Andric also highlighted the importance of working on the skills supply on a broad front, highlighting the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform Sweden initiative. This platform is part of a comprehensive EU initiative to promote digital skills and inclusion in Sweden and across Europe.
- The platform is a central hub for anyone seeking to share knowledge or information on activities, actions and training aimed at strengthening their own or others' digital skills. Sweden is one of 21 EU Member States that have launched a national platform.
Press release #5/240315: Campaign to get more people into tech
In 2022, TechSverige launched the Addera tech campaign. An information initiative to get more people to take the step to a profession in tech. Now the campaign is back on track.
Today, the tech sector is an engine for employment, growth and climate change in Sweden and the world. However, the increasing need for specialists in tech is a major challenge. An additional 18 000 tech specialists will be needed annually in Sweden until 2028.
- With this campaign, we want to show all the opportunities and pathways to the new tech jobs," says Ana Andric.
The campaign is being relaunched as the university opens for applications for this fall's courses.
Ana Andric also highlights the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform Sweden, which complements the Addera tech site with more information, from both a national and European perspective, on training pathways, funding opportunities and other issues related to digitalization and its opportunities for work and education.
Press release #6/240304: Skills needs in tech in focus at Linköping Science Park
TechSverige and the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise visited Linköping Science Park to present the new report on the future need for specialists in tech. The report shows the need in the tech industry as well as the rest of the business community and the public sector.
Tech has become increasingly important for the economy, jobs and sustainable social development. Good access to and a high level of tech skills are crucial for Sweden. It is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of the entire business sector and for creating growth, managing welfare and the climate transition.
TechSverige's business policy expert Ana Andric highlighted the report's conclusions:
- The shortage of tech skills is one of the biggest challenges to developing and delivering new innovations and solutions demanded by both business and society at large. According to our report, there will be an annual shortage of 18,000 people by 2028.
Ana Andric believes that many different initiatives and efforts will be needed to secure the skills supply of the future.
- TechSverige and the industry are making many efforts, including the Addera tech website, which compiles information about tech jobs and the routes to them. Initiatives such as Digital's Skills and jobs platform are also important. The platform brings together information, from both a national and European perspective, on training pathways, funding opportunities and other issues related to digitalization and its job and training opportunities.
We are participating in #DigitalSkillsSweden!
The Computer Society
Dataföreningens vision is a digitalization that strengthens people, business and society. Our vision is a sustainable, democratic and humanistic society, where digitalization gives everyone the opportunity to influence and improve their lives. By strengthening individuals' digital skills in both private and professional life, we also strengthen companies, organizations and society.
Dataföreningen achieves its vision by being an independent platform for learning and for bringing people together in exchanges of experience. The platform offers higher education courses, certifications, skills networks, premium networks, short courses and study groups in various forms.
Read more at dataforeningen.se
Digitization Council
The Digitization Council has been established by the government to drive digitization in Sweden. We follow developments and help the government with strategic analysis.
The Digitization Council is chaired by the Government's Minister for Digitization and consists of ten leading experts and a secretariat.
Read more at digitaliseringsradet.se
Entrepreneurs
Företagarna represents over 70 000 entrepreneurs and has 250 member associations. We offer networks, knowledge and practical help and drive the development of a better entrepreneurial climate, so that entrepreneurs get the right conditions to develop their business and achieve their goals.
Digitization offers fantastic opportunities for Sweden's small businesses to make big profits with the business models of the future. E-commerce, crowdfunding and keyword optimization are just some of the elements that have reshaped the market in recent years. Företagarna takes a very positive view of the development and works to ensure that small businesses can take advantage of all the benefits that digitization creates linked to skills development and matching.
The Internet Foundation
The Swedish Internet Foundation works for an internet that makes a positive contribution to people and society. We are an independent organization that ensures a strong and secure internet infrastructure in Sweden. Our goal is that everyone should dare and be able to use the internet. We are located in Sweden and are responsible for the Swedish top-level domain .se and the operation of the top-level domain .nu.
Through the Swedes and the Internet survey and research partnerships, we offer independent surveys that provide an understanding of digitalization. Digital lessons and teacher training contribute to increasing digital literacy in schools. Internet literacy is public education aimed at strengthening the individual's ability to use the internet in a conscious and safe way. Through Goto 10 and Internet Days, we provide inclusive venues for events on digitalization and internet-related issues.
IT Guide
IT-Guide increases the basic digital skills needed to manage everyday tasks and e-services. We recruit and train newly arrived young people with the right skills to work as IT Guides. The public is offered free help with their questions at our Internet cafés. We create inspiring meeting places and networks between groups that do not usually meet. The meetings provide knowledge exchange and integration at the individual level.
KTH
The Royal Institute of Technology is one of Sweden's largest and most recognized universities active in the technical field and educates a large proportion of Sweden's engineers and computer scientists, as well as conducting research in a variety of areas related to the digital field.
Mälardalen University
Mälardalen University offers advanced skills development in a number of technology areas such as software development, embedded systems, innovative production development and future energy systems. This investment, which is made together with Swedish industry, provides the opportunity for lifelong learning for the benefit of both individuals and industry. Most courses are fully online, making studies completely independent of time and place and possible to combine with full-time work. Mälardalen University, with 15,000 students studying courses and programs in economics, health, technology and education, is located on both sides of Lake Mälaren with campuses in Eskilstuna and Västerås.
Mälardalen University offers advanced skills development in a number of technology areas. In addition to the PROMPT project in software engineering, there is FutureE with courses in embedded systems and future energy systems and Premium with courses for knowledge-intensive and innovative production development (including Industry 4.0). All courses provide higher education credits and are free of charge for professionals in Sweden. This initiative, together with Swedish industry, provides the opportunity for lifelong learning for the benefit of both individuals and industry. Most courses are fully online, making studies completely independent of time and place and possible to combine with full-time work. Read more about the courses here.
Promise
Promise is a trade association for companies active in skills development and learning with the support of digital media. We spread competence about digitalization through the training projects our members carry out with their customers. The purpose of Promise is to strengthen the industry and to increase knowledge of how member companies contribute to developing organizations' operations.
National Organization for e-Skills
The National Organization for e-Competence is an independent competence network consisting of experts, specialists and researchers, actors from all sectors of society. Our mission is to support the development of new ways of learning, collaborating and communicating in all forms, from e-learning to e-work. We do this by organizing seminars and roundtables on key societal challenges, creating a neutral space for dialogue across borders.
The National Organization for e-Competence has initiated two think tanks in March 2019 to discuss important future issues for a digitalized society. One think tank has a focus on Virtual Collaboration and the other has a focus on the future of learning. Take the opportunity to participate in this dialog, and contribute to the development of society!
Saco Student Council
Saco Student Council is Sweden's largest student union organization and represents students from most of Saco's member unions. The student council works to improve the situation of students and new graduates. We organize the community builders of the future - our 100,000 students are a big part of what is to come.
Saco Student Council works with the issue of how an increasingly digitized society and a digitally characterized labor market will contribute to positive development for our country. Therefore, higher education needs to give all students, regardless of subject, the opportunity to encounter issues related to AI and digitization during their education to a much greater extent than today.
The National Agency for Education
The Swedish National Agency for Education works to ensure that all children and pupils receive a good quality education in a safe environment. We support Swedish preschools, schools and adult education in various ways to succeed in this mission. The National Agency for Education will work to promote digitization in the school system and to make it easier for schools and principals to take advantage of the possibilities of digitization in teaching and administration.
The National Agency for Education is tasked with promoting digitization in order to achieve the goals of the national digitization strategy for the school system and raise the quality of education.The National Agency for Education has developed, published and implemented a number of initiatives and activities that respond to the digitization strategy's three focus areas. The agency has developed skills development initiatives within the framework of the national school development programs in order to develop adequate digital skills. The Agency has also carried out a number of activities within the framework of the assignment to digitize the national tests. The National Agency for Education has carried out a follow-up of the national digitization strategy for the school system and has compiled and disseminated relevant research results to the agency's target groups. The range is developed based onevaluations, follow-ups, preparations, in collaboration and dialogue with our target groups.
Swedish Science Centers
Science centers want to arouse interest in science, technology and mathematics among children, young people and the general public, and contribute to Sweden's long-term skills supply through strengthened and broadened recruitment. Swedish Science Centers is an industry organization with members throughout the country, which together receive about 2 million visitors annually and which collaborates with schools, academia, business and civil society.
Science centres offer recreational programming courses, strategic digital skills development for school leaders and educators, and individual courses based on local demand. A national approach to professional development for teachers in programming is currently being piloted. It is based on school policy documents, with clear progression, and so far three different courses are offered across the country. Ongoing work also includes working across subjects by integrating programming with sustainable development and entrepreneurial skills training.
Swedish National Organization for Distance Education
The Swedish National Organization for Distance Education (SVERD) is an independent non-profit organization with over 30 years of experience and the only national organization in the fields of open, online, flexible and distance education. SVERD's mission is to drive the development of the possibilities of digitalization for new ways of learning, collaborating, communicating and relating to the outside world in the areas of education for all, throughout the country and for lifelong learning. We do this through local, regional, national and international activities. Conferences and webinars are organized annually and newsletters are published. The website has a reach of over 500 unique visitors/day.
SVERD promotes issues of open, accessible, equitable, equal, inclusive, democratic quality education in accordance with the UN and UNESCO's Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 4. By pursuing these issues, we also work for increased and integrated digital literacy, which is one of the key competencies for lifelong learning. SVERD drives and influences innovation, development and modernization of education and learning at all levels in and for the 21st century. SVERD is also a strong voice in the international context, participating in several international boards and also leading several committees in the field of open education and digitalization. SVERD drives the issues in digitalization described in the DigComp framework, where five competence areas are identified: Information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content production, security and problem solving.
Swedish Engineers
Sveriges Ingenjörer is Sweden's only interest organization and trade union aimed specifically at university-educated engineers. With 150,000 members, we represent our members and promote their issues in the labor market. In addition, we work with issues such as quality of education, industrial policy, STEM, innovation and research issues and more.
The Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers works with digitization issues, among other things, by working a lot with the issue of skills development for our members. Technology is developing rapidly and even highly educated people, who account for a high proportion of companies' innovation and development, must keep up if Swedish companies are to do so. We also advocate higher digital skills in society as such and are concerned that different groups in society have such different knowledge and conditions to be able to keep up with the development journey.
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) is an employer and interest organization for allmunicipalities and regions. SKL's task is to support and contribute to the development municipalities' and regions' activities.
On 18 March, SALAR submitted an action plan with 18 proposals for national initiatives to the Government with the aim of supporting the digitization of the school system. Within the #skolDigiplan project, SALAR, in close collaboration with the National Agency for Education and RISE, has worked with national actors, academia and industry. In addition, thousands of teachers, preschool teachers, school leaders, decision-makers, researchers and students have provided input to the action plan. In the action plan, SALAR highlights 18 national initiatives with proposals for which actor could be responsible for what.
Swedish Edtech Industry
Swedish Edtech Industry works to ensure that Sweden becomes the leading country in the world in exploiting the opportunities of digitization in the education system. The association works for a free and healthy market, which ensures innovation and growth, builds knowledge in and outside the network and drives quality issues. The industry association represents edtech companies that have the formal education system as their market, from preschool up to and including university.
We work comprehensively to develop client competence, which we see as central when it comes to the digital competence leaders need to successfully lead work on business development with digitization as support. Among other things, we have produced Edtechkartan.se, the first overview of the school system's digital ecosystem. We have also started a project to develop a resource that will support commissioners and teachers in choosing and evaluating digital learning resources.
Read more at swedishedtechindustry.se
Swedish JobTech
Swedish JobTech is an independent and non-profit association that drives the development of the Swedish labor market by utilizing digital technology. It is a platform for organizations, companies, entrepreneurs and authorities who want to participate in the digital development of the labor market.
We also strive to establish collaborations with other actors and are already working with the government's investment in a digital ecosystem swedishjobdev.se, part of the Swedish Public Employment Service's Digital Innovation Work.
Swedsoft
Swedsoft brings together Swedish software in an independent, non-profit association that works to increase the competitiveness of Swedish software. Our members are companies, academia and the public sector in Sweden. Together we work to make Sweden a world leader in the development of software, software-intensive products, systems and services.
Technology companies
Teknikföretagen is the employers' organization for the creative companies that account for one third of Sweden's exports. Across the country, we assist technology companies in labor law and industry issues, so that they can focus on developing world-class goods and services.
New technologies and new business models make it possible to tackle the major challenges of our time. The Swedish technology industry is leading this development. Teknikföretagen works, among other things, to ensure that more people apply for engineering and technology education and that teaching is in line with the latest technology. We also run concrete initiatives to strengthen digitization and competitiveness for industrial companies in Sweden. The Kickstart Digitalisation workshop series, which aims to promote digital skills and increase the pace of digitalization for small and medium-sized enterprises, is one of these.
Read more about teknikforetagen.se
Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is a national authority that works for sustainable growth and competitive companies in all parts of Sweden. We do this by strengthening companies and regions. We offer knowledge, networks and funding. This provides direct benefits to companies and strengthens the conditions for companies and regions to meet the challenges of the future. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth works to improve the supply of skills by clarifying and strengthening the business sector's need for skills in the short and long term. We do this, among other things, by encouraging companies to work on their skills supply and by supporting regional skills supply work.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is also working to ensure that more companies take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization. We do this, among other things, through business development cheques for digitization and an accelerator programme for digital startups - Startup Sweden. We offer Kickstart, three free meetings where small and medium-sized industrial companies have the opportunity to collaborate and receive support to start or continue their digitization. We also fund digitization coordinators in all regions who will drive and hold together the digitization work regionally.
The Union
Unionen is Sweden's largest trade union with over 660,000 members. All salaried employees at a workplace in the private sector can be members of Unionen. In addition to professional members, Unionen also welcomes the self-employed and students, regardless of position, education or salary. Unionen is present in everything from large international groups to small family businesses, organizations and associations and is organized at local, regional, national and international level.
Vercity
Vercity is a future place for adult learning that is being developed as Nacka builds its city. Vercity is run by Nacka municipality, AcadeMedia, Nackademin, the Swedish Institute of Business Administration and Rise, who together explore what learning and education should look like to be relevant and give individuals, employers and society the development they need. Vercity is located in temporary premises in Nacka Forum, which also houses Sweden's first edtech hub and a Vinnova-funded project on test beds for edtech.
Vercity (through its partners AcadeMedia, Nackademin, Företagsekonomiska institutet and Rise) is running a Vinnova project to start a test bed for edtech, Beyond Ed Hub. The value of a test bed for edtech arises partly in the companies that test their products and evaluate them, and partly in the teachers and principals who open up their classrooms for testing. For example, Nackademin participates because they want to bring natural digital knowledge into the classroom. The motive for getting involved is the same for our municipal schools, i.e. to raise the minimum level of our teachers.