At the beginning of October, the formation of the new Swedish government was announced, following the elections on 14 September that brought Stefan Löfven as Prime Minister. The education post has resulted split into three. The Green party affiliate Gustaf Fridolin, nomined Minister for Education, will be at the head of Swedish primary education while secondary and tertiary education will be divided between two Social democrat women, Aida Hadzialic as Minister for Upper Secondary School and Adult Education and Training, and Helene Hellmark Knutsson as Minister for Higher Education and Research. 

Gustav Fridolin and Aida Hadzialic stand out for their young age, 31 and 27 respectively, bringing a fresh contribution to the Government. On the other hand, 45 years old Helene Hellmark Knutsson, responsible for Higher Education and Research, is from long time behind the Swedish political scene, although not in the field education. She started her career as Ombudsman in the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and she was later Commissioner in the municipality of Sundbyberg and Council Commissioner at Stockholm County Council. Although ironically she never earned a higher education degree, she will be responsible for the 14 public universities and 22 higher education institutions, as well as for national research policy.

Swedish Government