The number of individuals who have completed art and cultural education programs has increased in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to the latest report from Statistics Sweden (SCB). Moreover, the number of individuals who successfully finished their education reached its highest level since the programs were initiated in 2015.
Art and cultural education programs represent a distinct form of education with their own structure and regulations. These post-secondary programs are divided into three types, each serving different purposes. Preparatory programs aim to equip students for higher education programs leading to artistic degrees. Vocational programs focus on developing professional skills in the artistic and cultural fields. Heritage programs are designed to preserve and enhance cultural heritage. The first art and cultural education programs commenced in the second half of 2015, previously operating as complementary education.
Three-quarters of those enrolled in art and cultural education programs are women. The number of individuals who commenced studies in these programs increased for the second consecutive year. In 2022, 3,000 individuals embarked on their studies, slightly surpassing the previous year’s figure but remaining consistent with most previous years. The decrease in enrollments in 2020 was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly affecting shorter-duration programs. Since 2015, approximately three-quarters of admitted students have been women.
Graph: Number of individuals who commenced art and cultural education programs in 2015-2022, by gender.
Women are overrepresented in all types of education programs. The gender distribution is most uneven in programs within the heritage field, where 82% of students are women.
Graph: Number of individuals who commenced art and cultural education programs in 2022, by program type and gender.
The gender gap in completion rates has decreased. The completion rate for students in art and cultural education programs slightly declined in 2022 compared to 2021 but remained higher than in the years 2017-2020. In 2015, the completion rate was high, which can be attributed to the small number of short-duration programs in the latter half of the year, where all students completed their education.
Women have a higher completion rate than men, although the gap has narrowed for the second consecutive year. Women achieved an 84% completion rate, compared to 81% for men. The higher completion rate among women can be partly explained by their greater participation in heritage programs. These programs generally have shorter durations and higher completion rates compared to other types of programs.
Graph: Completion rate (percentage) for students in art and cultural education programs in 2015-2022, by gender.
A larger proportion of women enroll in certain other education programs (programs solely under supervision). In addition to art and cultural education programs, the same regulations also cover programs solely under governmental supervision. These post-secondary programs do not receive financial support through government grants, and students are not eligible for student loans. The programs encompass various subjects beyond the artistic or cultural fields, such as fashion design, music, and aviation education. Unlike vocational higher education programs, these programs do not need to meet the labor market’s demand for qualified workforce.
The number of individuals who commenced studies in programs solely under supervision slightly decreased to 320 students in 2022. Even in this type of education, the majority of students beginning their studies are women. Most program specializations have more women than men starting their studies, except for aviation education, where men outnumber women.