The Swedish Model, Student Participation in Quality Processes

For a long time, Sweden has been in the forefront in involving students in quality improvement of higher education. In this paper two students who have been deeply involved in the student integrated and student driven quality processes of two of Sweden’s major technical university give their view on a successful student participation in the educational quality work.

This paper offers details on how student driven quality work is organized and conducted in two major Swedish technical universities. It also offers an introduction to the possible gains and drawbacks of implementing a high degree of student driven quality work at an institution of higher learning. When you have read this paper you will have a better understanding of what it takes to make students perform 1000 appraisal meetings with faculty per year, have them suggest a new policy of pedagogical qualifications and be members of the university board of trustees.

Proceedings of the 9th International CDIO Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 9 – 13, 2013.