The government’s decision is based on wanting to review the nomination process in order to bring in more people with security policy expertise, something Today’s Arena was the first to report on.
The decision has been criticized by both the opposition and Sweden’s university and college association. Now the rectors of the country’s universities and colleges are also joining the critics.
“Politicizing boards”
“We rectors of the country’s universities and colleges want to forcefully voice our criticism and clarify our view of the consequences of the government’s decision to shorten the terms of office of the external members of the boards of state institutions of higher education from three years to 17 months,” write the rectors in a letter to the Government .
In the current system, one nominee is appointed by the government and one by the university, which, according to the rectors, made the appointment balanced at the same time as the government had transparency.
The rectors believe that the government’s interference in the appointment of the boards risks politicizing them.
“The decision can only be interpreted as a distrust of the competence of the current boards and the prevailing process of appointing them. In the long run, the decision risks posing a threat to the independence of the higher education institutions and thus the opportunity to critically seek new knowledge, consequently a threat to academic freedom .”
Minister’s response
Education Minister Mats Persson (L) gives his view on the matter:
“The government stands up for academic freedom. At the same time, everyone must relate to the new security policy situation. Not least against the background of the war that is currently going on in our vicinity and Chinese military researchers who have proven to be active at Swedish universities. The security policy understanding should therefore not be underestimated, especially not in the university and higher education sector. We are in a time where we cannot afford to be naive”, writes Mats Persson in a written comment Today’s Arena.