A presentation by Alastair Creelman and Karin Berkö held on EDEN conference in Oslo 12-15 june 2013 on how Learning Centres acan support distance learning and thus support rural development. This presentation is part of the DISTANS networks project on "How Education can Support Rural Development": http://distans.wetpaint.com/page/Does+Education+support+rural+development%3F

1. Learning centres for regional
development in Sweden
Alastair Creelman
Linnaeus University
(standing in for Karin Berkö,
Östersund Learning Centre)

2. Population approx. 55,000
Over 60,000 km2
O.9 inhabitants per km2
(Iceland 3 per km2
Belgium 340 per km2)
The Federation of Lapland's Municipalities (LKF)
Kiruna, Gällivare, Jokkmokk, Pajala

3. CC BY-SA Some rights reserved by lihis on Flickr

4. CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by Aroha Pounamu on Flickr

5. Industries
CC BY-SA Some rights reserved by jsandb on FlickrCC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by tomhe on Flickr
CC BY-NC Some rights reserved by Juska Wendland on Flickr
CC BY-NC-ND Some rights reserved by nate2b on Flickr

6. Learning centres
• Meeting place
• Inspiration and
encouragement
• Support
• Guidance
• Education broker
Photos: CFL Söderhamn

7. • Nitus - Swedish national network of learning
centres
• Increase accessibility to education and
competence development
• Meeting place for study and local business
• Quality assurance

8. Why move to the university when the
university can come to you?
Photo: CFL Söderhamn

9. Lappland’s
learning centres
• Cooperation with three universities in
northern Sweden
• Degree programmes in mining,
tourism, hydro-electric engineering
• Higher vocational education

10. Kiruna
CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by jameslosey on Flickr
10 years ago - unemployment and brain drain
Today – more jobs than people

11. Åre
- from winter only to all year resort
CC BY-NC-SA Some rights reserved by mildrid on Flickr