Guest post: Erik Bernhardsson
I’m not going to start this article with a long introduction. That is because there are so many reasons to study in Sweden. I want to jump right into the list…
1. Think more creatively
A university professor was once quoted as saying that university doesn’t teach you to do a job; it is meant to teach you how to think. But, how is it teaching you to think? For the majority of the world’s universities, this means teaching you to think critically. This is not the same as learning to think for yourself. You are taught to think critically according to the method that your professor believes in. You will see this anytime you question their methods.
Universities in Sweden take a much different approach. They teach you to think critically like any other university. But it is the framework around this that is much different. You are also taught to think independently and creatively.
You are encouraged to not just question the non-academic world. You are taught to question everything. This gives you the ability to look at the whole world differently. It also changes the ideas that you come to.
You are not looking at the world like it is wrong and you have been taught the proper way. You simply look at the world and ask, “Is there a better way?” This more creative and less judgemental method produces new ideas, not just griping about the world. This method of teaching is the main reason that Sweden consistently ranks among the most innovative countries.
2. Be challenged for a reason
There are many horror stories of university courses that are difficult. University is supposed to challenge you. But, the common practice of using certain courses to simply weed people out serves little purpose. Universities in Sweden are challenging, but they build this challenge around making you the best you can be, not just to see how much they can put you through.
The difference that this makes is easy to see. Overall, Sweden’s system of education is ranked among the top systems in the world. Sweden is also home to several secondary schools that are individually ranked among the world’s best. These rankings are not from Sweden itself. They are conducted by independent international organizations.
Another factor that makes universities in Sweden stand out is the focus of every course. They don’t just focus on completing credits to get a degree. They are focused on reasoning, rationality, and most importantly, application. This is in contrast to the quote that we discussed earlier. Universities in Sweden don’t just teach you how to think. They teach you how to apply your knowledge.



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