The document discusses learning centers in Sweden that aim to promote regional development. Specifically, it focuses on learning centers in Lapland, a sparsely populated northern region of Sweden covering over 60,000 square kilometers with around 55,000 residents. The learning centers in Lapland partner with local universities to provide higher education programs in fields like mining, tourism, and hydroelectric engineering directly in the region to address issues of unemployment, brain drain, and increasing accessibility to education and skills development for local residents and businesses.

1. Learning centres for regional
development in Sweden
Alastair Creelman
Linnaeus University
(standing in for Karin Berkö,
Östersund Learning Centre)

2. Population approx. 55,000
Over 60,000 km2
O.9 inhabitants per km2
(Iceland 3 per km2
Belgium 340 per km2)
The Federation of Lapland's Municipalities (LKF)
Kiruna, Gällivare, Jokkmokk, Pajala

3. CC BY-SA Some rights reserved by lihis on Flickr

4. CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by Aroha Pounamu on Flickr

5. Industries
CC BY-SA Some rights reserved by jsandb on FlickrCC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by tomhe on Flickr
CC BY-NC Some rights reserved by Juska Wendland on Flickr
CC BY-NC-ND Some rights reserved by nate2b on Flickr

6. Learning centres
• Meeting place
• Inspiration and
encouragement
• Support
• Guidance
• Education broker
Photos: CFL Söderhamn

7. • Nitus - Swedish national network of learning
centres
• Increase accessibility to education and
competence development
• Meeting place for study and local business
• Quality assurance

8. Why move to the university when the
university can come to you?
Photo: CFL Söderhamn

9. Lappland’s
learning centres
• Cooperation with three universities in
northern Sweden
• Degree programmes in mining,
tourism, hydro-electric engineering
• Higher vocational education

10. Kiruna
CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by jameslosey on Flickr
10 years ago - unemployment and brain drain
Today – more jobs than people

11. Åre
- from winter only to all year resort
CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by mildrid on Flickr