”For several years, Lantmäteriet has experienced skill shortages, as it has been difficult to recruit,” says Elisabet Lewis, Lantmäteriet.
Apart from Lantmäteriet, possible employers for a land surveyor are municipalities, construction firms and mining companies. At the Swedish Public Employment Service, there are land surveyors with degrees from abroad registered. To make them employable in Sweden, professional development is required.
“We know that there are individuals with a degree in land surveying from their home country here. However, they do not fulfil the requirements we have when we recruit, as they lack knowledge about Swedish real property law etcetera,” Elisabet Lewis says.
Public authorities to collaborate to meet the demands of the labour market
The University of Gävle has the competence to educate land surveyors. To meet current demands of the labour market, three public authorities collaborated by creating contract education containing four of the most important courses in economy and law.
The selection process was initiated by the Public Employment Service, in December 2018. 30 individuals out of 40 were then selected for interviews that were conducted together with Lantmäteriet.
The University of Gävle will carry out the contract education at a full-time pace from 8 April and the programme will end on 6 October.
Participants are between 20 and 64 years old with a documented degree in land surveying from another country. The goal is to make them employable in the land surveying sector in Sweden or for them to attain a Swedish degree in land surveying. After completing the programme, participants will be offered an internship at Lantmäteriet for a period of three to six months.
“I am looking forward to the result of this programme, and I am proud that our collaboration gives us the opportunity to create a substantial benefit to society,” says Michael Persson, strategist at the Public Employment Service.
Text: Stina Lilja
Photo: Marie Hägg
