We need to face the future with the right skills

- The ability to face the future with the right skills is the biggest and most important challenge in working life. This is a strategic issue for all organizations, says Anna-Carin Ramsten, who leads the work with competence supply and innovative power at Vinnova. People can do much more than what is documented on paper, for example, score. If we can make individuals' knowledge and experiences visible in addition to formal education, then everyone benefits.There are systemic challenges in terms of skills supply that are reflected in high unemployment while a majority of employers have difficulty recruiting relevant skills.

- The reasons for this are many. We have an education system with different forms of education that are not coordinated and that can make it difficult for people to access the educations that meet the needs of employers. At the same time, people can do much more than what is documented on paper, for example, score. If we can make individuals' knowledge and experiences visible in addition to formal education, then everyone benefits.

To meet these challenges and secure the supply of Swedish skills, Vinnova is now making an effort on major strategic collaborations. The projects will contribute to increased motivation for lifelong learning, greater mobility between different forms of education and a better opportunity to make different kinds of competence visible.

The Swedish Public Employment Service, the Agency for Polytechnics, RISE and several universities are involved in the projects, which meet needs that have become clear within the Government's partnership programmes Competence supply and lifelong learning.

- Together, the projects can contribute to a shift within the education and labor market area in Sweden and create solutions to the system challenges we see, says Anna-Carin Ramsten. How do we get talented researchers to want to work in Sweden? How do we get out what happens at the universities to the companies and vice versa?

The government has initiated a number of initiatives to meet the challenges that characterize the area. Vinnova has received several important government assignment linked to skills supply, digital infrastructure and talent access.

- We also have an important role in contributing to increased mobility both nationally and internationally. How do we get talented researchers to want to work in Sverige? Hur, do we get out what happens at the universities to the companies and vice versa? That exchange is an important basis for us to have the competence required to create a competitive and sustainable society, says Karin Aase, area manager for Competence Supply for Innovative Power at Vinnova.

Four strategic projects get funding

Several project based on the Government's partnership programmes will be financed in the future. In total, this is an effort SEK 65 million from Vinnova. The four strategic project that are now receiving funding are:

System development for increased transition between polytechnic and higher education

Project partners: University West, Malmö University, Luleå University of Technology, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad municipality, Agency for Polytechnics, Non-profit Association Business Economics Institute

Investigations show that there are good opportunities for mobility between polytechnics and colleges / universities, which creates benefits for both individuals and for the supply of skills in working life and in society at large. The project will therefore develop a validation model, which creates a more flexible system for individuals who move between polytechnics and academic education.

Learning to learn - a toolbox for increased ability, motivation and desire for lifelong learning

Project partners: Luleå University of Technology, NOX Consulting AB, RISE, Sprout Park AB, Umeå University

Many employees opt out of the opportunity for training when it is offered. At the same time, the importance of individuals' own driving forces for learning increases in order to successfully absorb new knowledge.

There is a large gap between the research's insights into how motivation for learning can be promoted and how that knowledge is used in working life. The project will develop a digital tool that will be based on reliable research with the intention of stimulating motivation and curiosity for one's own learning.

The competence pass: micromerits as a tool for making competencies visible based on needs

Project partners: Arbetsförmedlingen, RISE, the Swedish Polytechnic Authority

The aim of the project is to develop a system to be able to make visible and validate all forms of education and learning outcomes, in line with a model used within the EU.

The pilot will also test the structures to be able to build a “competency map” that covers not only training and level-determined qualifications, but also abilities and skills acquired outside established systems.

DINO: Demonstrator for innovation in the public sector

Project partners: RISE

For legal, structural and resource reasons, authorities often have challenges when it comes to conducting development work of an innovation nature. The project will establish Dino, an arena for supporting development and innovation projects driven by actors in the public sector, which will offer concrete innovation support for lifelong learning and skills supply.