SULF colleagues at Uppsala University conducted a survey and found that postdoctoral researchers there face significant work environment problems, including long working hours, high stress and limited career support, with those on scholarship funding especially vulnerable.

News report in Universitetsläraren (in Swedish): https://universitetslararen.se/2025/10/16/rapport-arbetsmiljoproblem-och-utsatthet-bland-postdoktorer-i-uppsala/

The full survey report (in English): https://sulf.se/app/uploads/2025/09/Postdoc-Survey-analysis_250923.pdf

The Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) has introduced a so-called promise of service (servicelöfte) to the effect that, from 1 October 2025 onwards, decisions on residence permits for doctoral education will normally be issued within 30 days. This applies to both new applications and renewals, and also applies to applications as a family member of a person in doctoral education.

The promise of service is just that: a promise, not an enforceable right. However, it is an indication that resources within the Migration Agency are being prioritised for this category of applications. The background to this is a government instruction to the Migration Agency expressing that Sweden must become a more attractive country for skilled workers.

The 30-day target refers to the application’s handling within the Migration Agency, and does not cover any delays due to consultation with external agencies. One known issue is that applications can be delayed by several months when the Security Service (Säpo) is involved.

Read more at Universitetsläraren (in Swedish): https://universitetslararen.se/2025/10/02/migrationsverket-lovar-snabbare-handlaggning-av-doktoranders-uppehallstillstand/

Update: Universitetsläraren now also has a report on this in English: https://universitetslararen.se/2025/10/09/migration-agency-aims-for-fast-tracked-handling-of-residence-permits/

SULF is hosting two free webinars on current challenges to academic freedom – one in Swedish and one in English, focusing on the situation in the Nordic countries and in the United States, respectively.

1 Oct. 2025 15.00–17.00: Academic Freedom under Pressure – Insights from the United States
The webinar will include presentations by Dan Garisto, science journalist covering US research and policy for Nature, and Laila Abdallah, political analyst and author of the report From Washington to Wallenberg? – The Effects of Trump’s Research Policy on Swedish Collaborations, Strategies, and Academic Capacity.

2 okt. 2025 12.00–13.00: Varför är akademisk frihet en facklig fråga?
I ett samtal mellan Karin Åmossa, samhällspolitisk chef på SULF, och Haro de Grauw, SULF:s vice ordförande, diskuterar vi varför akademisk frihet inte bara är en akademisk angelägenhet, utan också en facklig kärnfråga. Samtalet modereras av Paulina Rajkowska. Utgångspunkt för diskussionen är SULF:s rapport Akademisk frihet i Norden, som visar hur den akademiska friheten i Norden utmanas av managementkultur, beroende av extern finansiering, politisk styrning, otrygga anställningar och ett hårdnande samhällsklimat.

Lund University has renewed and expanded its agreement with the International Citizen Hub Lund (ICHL) to collaborate on attracting and retaining international talent. ICHL is primarily funded by Lund municipality (Lunds kommun), but the University will contribute SEK 325,000 per year.

ICHL supports not only recruited employees but also their partners and families through advice, networking, and career programs, to ease integration and improve retention of international staff. Under the agreement, ICHL will be more present in university activities (e.g. orientation days for doctoral students and postdocs), and the university gains visibility via ICHL’s promotional channels.

You can read about the ICHL’s services and activities on their website: https://internationalcitizenhub.com

On 17 September, Petter Broman from Akademikernas a-kassa will inform about the new rules about income insurance that take effect on 1 October. The webinar, arranged by SULF, will also cover how this affects income insurance and other benefits you may be entitled to.

When: 17 September, 11.30-12.30
Where: Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88992447265?pwd=PDz4qkQfQe0kOUbXneBMOvuE1aU6rc.1

Read more about unemployment, a-kassa, income insurance and other benefits on SULF’s website.

Universitetsläraren magazine published a thoughtful opinion piece, co-authored by doctoral candidates Alma Dautovic and Ivan Andrés Castillo together with others at University West (Högskolan Väst).

They argue that as university teachers and researchers (and as nurses, in the authors’ case) we have a moral duty to speak out about what is happening in Gaza. “The silence of Swedish academia on Gaza is not neutrality – it is taking a stance.”

Read the article here (in Swedish): https://universitetslararen.se/2025/09/04/nar-universitet-jamnas-med-marken-kan-vi-inte-tiga-still/

The Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) has now followed up its report from last year’s investigation (UKA 2024:20) into the use of foreign stipends to finance doctoral education. Links (in Swedish): original report (June 2024), follow-up report (25 June 2025).

UKÄ broadly finds that higher education institutions have made efforts to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable regulations. Notably, however, UKÄ pushes back against the arguments made by some universities, including Karolinska institutet, for a broader interpretation of “other collaborations” in the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 5, section 4 a, second item. That rule is an exception to the general provision that doctoral candidates admitted on stipends should be offered employment after the first year of studies is completed.