Step up retention of international researchers, says report

The Swedish government should change migration legislation to allow international doctoral students to stay on for two years after graduation to look for work; and universities should be given a ‘collaboration bonus’ to collaborate strongly with industry to match researchers’ skills with companies’ needs.

These were the two key recommendations to government made in a report of an investigation carried out by EURAXESS on behalf of Vinnova, the Swedish Innovation Agency, into improving support for international junior researchers to find a possible career in Sweden outside academia.

Currently, PhD graduates from outside the European Union or European Economic Area have to gain a permanent residence permit to stay on. For this they have to present proof of 18 months’ employment and prove that they have a high enough income to support themselves.

These conditions date from 2021. Before that doctoral students were given permanent residence after four years with no requirement to be employed.

The report, published in May, was prepared against the background of Swedish companies facing an unprecedented skills shortage, which is expected to worsen in the coming years.

This month the Curie Newsletter of Vinnova published an extensive exploration of its main findings together with interviews, stakeholders’ comments on the findings and international doctoral graduates’ views on their experiences finding work in Sweden.

They identified “many obstacles for international researchers that want to work in Sweden”.

Ministers were urged to “learn from governments that already have established support for junior researchers, such as Denmark and Finland, to make a structure in doctoral education for time outside the university”.

The report called on universities to make it mandatory in doctoral studies for Individual Study Plans to include a section on career guidance within and outside academia.

They should also offer training courses for supervisors in the role of being a career guide and courses for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers on alternative career paths, which preferably are either compulsory or earn credits.

Universities should use the local job transition funding to finance actions for career guidance outside academia, the report recommended.

The report, Can Sweden Afford to Lose Them? Supporting international junior researchers’ career opportunities outside academia, highlights the cost of not retaining doctoral students on graduation.

The front page runs the following headlines: “6000 international doctoral students in Sweden”; “SEK5 million (US$ 488,000) the average cost of education [for] a doctoral student”; and “Only 38% still [living] in Sweden three years after dissertation” [and only 20% after 8 years].

The 83-page report contains analyses of the obstacles that meet foreign young researchers in Sweden upon graduation and proposes a large set of actions that can be taken to redress the present situation of low retention.

The authors are: Therese Lindkvist, Linköping University; Ulrika Åstrand, Linköping University; Sirkka Jarlvik, Malmö University; Vladimir Pabón-Martinez and Ana Oliveira, Karolinska Institutet; Ravaka Ramanamisata, University of Gothenburg with Amanda Ivehammar as editor.

Severe skills shortages in Sweden

The report referred to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study that shows that the proportion of foreign doctoral students is higher in Sweden than the average of the OECD countries at 35.5% compared to 22.4%.

By 2020 the share of foreign registered doctoral students in Sweden had increased from 11% in 1997 to 37% in 2020, with the highest proportion within natural sciences and technology.

In 2013 the number of doctoral students in Sweden reached a record high of 19,611. Thereafter, a dropping down process started reaching an all-time low in 2022 of 17,450, a reduction of 11% over 9 years.

The EURAXESS study further refers to a report from the IT & Telecom companies of Sweden in 2025, where a prediction was made that there will be a lack of 70,000 tech talents in 2024.

“This brutal reality” is also confirmed in a report by TechSverige that came out in 2024, stating that from 2024 until 2028, Swedish companies will lack 18,000 tech competences yearly.

“In addition, IKEM’s (Innovations-och kemiindustrierna i Sverige) report Kompetensjakten (Competence hunt) from 2023 states that if the growth continues in the same way, the chemistry and innovation industry will need to recruit up to 12,000 higher educated, of which 8,000 with research education, before 2030”, the report stated.

Against this perspective EURAXESS says that retaining more international students that already are in Sweden “is harvesting a low-hanging fruit”.

“The current state Swedish companies are facing [is] an unprecedented skills shortage, which is expected to worsen in the coming years. Many companies now realise that international recruitment is needed to fill the skills gap.

“However, there is no need to necessarily look abroad, as the most low-hanging fruits to pick are international academic talents already in the country – meaning primarily students and researchers currently at Swedish universities,” the report explained.

“While the work of retaining international students has begun, the effort to include international researchers, especially junior ones, as a possible and valuable infusion into the Swedish industry has not yet been emphasised”, the report stated.

Report recommendations

The EURAXESS report recommends a Swedish network to investigate possible actions to be taken at Swedish universities, as well as the role of industry and other organisations, to support international junior researchers to find a possible career also outside academia in Sweden.

Data that serves as the basis for the report was collected from primary sources (through surveys and interviews) and secondary sources (such as reports, websites, etcetera).

A survey was conducted, which consisted of open-ended, ranking, and multiple-choice questions. The survey was sent out to the target group via the EURAXESS Sweden network, PhD Boards, and other relevant organisations and personal contacts.

In the survey, respondents could mark their interest in being part of a semi-structured interview based on answers in the survey.

“Sixteen respondents were chosen randomly to represent the researchers in more in-depth interviews. In total 167 individual researchers representing 16 different Swedish universities responded to the survey”, EURAXESS stated on the methodology.

The report, which proposes 19 concrete recommendations, is collated from four different perspectives: The researcher’s view on a career outside academia; the role of Swedish universities; the role of industry; and external actors and organisations – hindrance or enablers.

“It is clear from the data collected that many international researchers would consider a career outside academia in Sweden but feel they lack the support and preparation to dare take the leap. Only a few doctoral students will continue towards a senior research career, as most junior researchers leave academia at some point,” the report stated.

“The reason to do so can stem from the role universities play in society to provide impact and utilisation of research results, but also as a means to be an attractive employer,” the report added.

Experts comment

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise said in a comment in the VINNOVA newsletter Courier that international young researchers’ mobility is limited by the heightened demand for salary levels for migrants. In November 2023 this level was increased to 80% of the average salary for comparable experts in Sweden and another increase has been proposed to 100%.

When asked for comment, higher education expert Ulrika Wallén in the Confederation said: “For young researchers from third countries applying for work in the industry it can sometimes be difficult to reach this level, not least in case you are moving between several jobs and do not reach full time employment.”

The Ministry of Education and Research, and Ministry of Justice in April 2024 announced that a special investigator was appointed to undertake an “Inquiry on improving conditions for foreign doctoral students and researchers in Sweden and more reliable assessments of resident permits for studies,” as reported by University World News.

University World News asked the special investigator Mattias Pleiner, who is going to report on the investigation by 9 December 2024, if he is optimistic that Sweden can manage to turn the downward trend of PhD students leaving upon graduation, also taking into the consideration that the average salary level of doctoral candidates has sunk significantly over the last two decades as reported by University World News.

Pleiner said: “At this moment, I will have to direct you to the directives for the ongoing enquiry (10 page mandate in Swedish). As you can see in the directives, one goal of the enquiry is to improve the conditions for PhD candidates in Sweden, in order to further attract and keep these candidates in Sweden”.

Professor Bob Harris, who is academic vice-president for doctoral education at the Karolinska Institute told University World News: “While recruiting doctoral students to Sweden is relatively easy, their continued development within academia is currently less harmonious due to the administrative processes required to facilitate staying and working within the country, as well as the prevailing academic culture that does not fully embrace diversity.

“In order to attract talented PhDs, companies need to actively increase their interaction and visibility at universities, and universities need to actively invite them in.

“Universities need to educate both PhDs and their supervisors about the multiple possibilities for career choice after graduation. As there is a wish for the universities to attract the most talented individuals, a wish for many internationals to remain in Sweden due to the high standard of living and societal organisation, and there is a wish for industry to recruit well educated PhDs, this matchmaking should not be problematic”.

Topias Tolonen-Weckström, chairperson of the doctoral committee at the Swedish National Union of Students, told University World News: “It’s clear that there exists a big demand for highly skilled workers in Sweden, and so the government, potential employers, and other actors should do their best in attracting talents, both Swedish and not, to complete doctoral studies in Sweden and in having them stay in Sweden after their defence.

“What we hear from international doctoral students in Sweden is that the migration law and process to residence permits, especially regarding permanent residence, should be clearer and more anticipative.

“Moreover, many international students feel that they do not understand the opportunities of the private sector or have sufficient networks to find right opportunities, and even if they did, they would face problems with the Swedish language.

“On the other hand, Swedish students do not find doctoral studies lucrative, and we believe that this is due to unsure career opportunities and stagnated salary progression, especially early in their careers.

“The EURAXESS report partly addresses these thoughts, and we are glad to find discussion related to migration legislation, language, and increasing cooperation between universities and the private sector.”