The University says yes to fees for students from outside Europe.
This means that they bulldoze the students and three faculties in their answer to the study fee investigation.
In January this year the government’s investigation, on how study fees for students from outside the EEA-cooperation could be instated, came out. The investigation suggested that the fees should cover all expenses, which for students from outside the EEA-cooperation could mean 80 000 Skr per year and student. The high costs depend on the fact that the government counts on that it will take scholarships and marketing so that the number of student does not decline dramatically.
Wants to lower the government’s expenses
The University has now reached a referal response where the bare bones are that it is a good proposition. They write in the answer that was passed in a principal meeting on Wednesday midmorning: “The University of Lund feels that a system with study fees for students from outside the EEA-cooperation can be a way to unburden government grants and give room for an increasing inflow of foreign students in Sweden”.
A bad proposition
But Martin Lundqvist, chairman of the students´ unions at the University of Lund, is very disappointed with the university’s answer.
– No matter if one are for or against fees for this group of students, I feel that one could agree that it is a poorly proposition because it cost more than it generate takings, he says.
The students´ unions at the University of Lund have also been asked to give an opinion on the proposition and in their referal response they are very critical towards the proposed study fees.
– We want students from different countries, not just the ones that can afford it. Furthermore, they contribute to our education, gives it higher quality, says Martin Lundqvist. He is also afraid that the students that pay will be more prioritized by, for example, getting extra help with finding habitation.
Three faculties against fees
Not only students are critical towards the proposition. Three of the six faculties that have made internal statements are against the instating of fees.
The affirmation from the domain of Humanities and Theology reads, “The internationalization gets inhibited, financial loss-making deal, democratical reason and educational policy reasons – free education is fundamental in the constructions of the Swedish society“.
The social-science and the scientific faculties are also critical towards the proposed study fees, in contrast to the School of Economics and Management and the legal and medical faculties.
Opens up for fees for European students
It is still not clear when the government will take a position on the study fee issue, but all parties in the government except for the Center Party are pro frees for students outside EEA.
During a lecture on the college budget at the University of Gothenburg, the Minister of Education, Lars Leijonborg, also opened up for a discussion on fees for European students.
– I am open to it, if it is possible for these students to finance the fee. That can differ from country to country, he says to the newspaper Göteborgsposten.
Now, however, Lars Leijonborg claims that this statement was a misunderstanding and states, according to TT, that the EU/EEA-rules means that the same conditions must apply for European and Swedish students. And for these students the study fees are not on the cards.
Translation: Karin Lundqvist
