Press release -

Gävle successful in attracting male social work students

Sweden’s most popular study programme in social work can be found at University of Gävle, and it also has by far the highest number of male applicants. Out of 8120 applicants to this study programme, 1328 are men. This means that University of Gävle has almost twice as many male applicants as the second most popular study programme at the University of Gothenburg.

There is a shortage of male social workers. For this reason, study programmes in social work have a great responsibility, and at University of Gävle, they have succeeded.

“This is a consequence of the fact that we have a good and attractive programme with good ambassadors among our alumni, our students and our teachers. The fact that we are popular with very many applicants also means that we get many male students,” says Maria Sjölund, programme director.

Highest number of applicants over age 35

1991 of the applicants for the programmes in Gävle are also over 35 years old. This is three times as many as at Umeå University, which is a University that also attracts many mature students.

“University of Gävle is successful at taking care of and preparing students with different backgrounds. Moreover, receiving applicants with a greater life experience is very valuable for us.”

“I am extremely proud, and I am convinced that we provide skilled social workers, who are capable of taking action, to a society that needs them,” Maria Sjölund says.

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University of Gävle is Sweden’s most popular university college when it comes to first- choice applicants to study programmes in the autumn of 2021. A total of 37,761 people applied for courses or programmes at University of Gävle. This is an increase of 14 percent compared to 2020, according to new statistics from the Swedish Council for Higher Education.
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Contact:

Maria Sjölund, programme director for the study programme in social work, University of Gävle
Phone: 072-023 02 83
E-mail: Maria.Sjolund@hig.se

Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Photo: Anna Sällberg

Topics

  • Family issues

Categories

  • university of gävle
  • social work
  • study programme in social work
  • maria sjölund
  • male social workers

Education and Research at a Scenic Campus.
The University of Gävle has approximately 17 000 students, more than 50 study programmes and second-cycle programmes, about 1 000 courses in humanities, social and natural sciences and technology.

Research Profiles
Built Environment and Health-promoting Working Life are the general research profiles of the higher education institution. Important parts included are Spatial Planning with a specialisation in Sustainable Built Environment and Musculoskeletal Disorders with the purpose to prevent work-related injuries. In 2010, the higher education institution received permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in the profile area of Built Environment.
The higher education institution has applied for permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in technology, humanities and social sciences.