Criticism from the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) directed at Umeå University
NEWS
The Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) has levelled serious criticism at Umeå University over its handling of a case concerning eligibility for a degree programme at the university. The case concerns how the university has dealt with a so-called referral decision from the Higher Education Appeals Board.
The Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) is a public authority that considers appeals against decisions within the higher education and vocational education sectors. In this case, a student at another higher education institution has appealed against a decision regarding eligibility to the ÖNH.
The Appeals Board concluded that the student’s eligibility assessment had been carried out incorrectly. Umeå University has subsequently repeated the same assessment and thus handled the ÖNH’s decision incorrectly.
UKÄ assesses that the university’s handling of the case has resulted in the process being delayed to such an extent “that the applicant has been deprived of their opportunities to be admitted to the programme they applied for.” Against this background, serious criticism is directed at the university’s handling of the matter.
“I welcome UKÄ’s review of this case and deeply regret Umeå University’s handling of it. We are now undertaking an analysis and taking steps for the future. Above all, I naturally regret the situation we have put this individual student in," says Vice-Chancellor Tora Holmberg.
UKÄ has asked the university’s Vice-Chancellor to report by August on the measures the university is taking to ensure that similar situations do not arise again.
