Successful teaching initiative becomes permanent

The Professional development for teachers (VAL) programme is aimed at people who work in schools or preschool who do not have a teaching qualification. Since 2011, the programme has been time-limited, but at the end of last year the government decided to make the initiative permanent. The programme is held in Swedish only.

“Even though I’ve worked for many years in after-school programme and therefore have a lot of experience, I’ve felt that I lacked knowledge and a deeper understanding of what’s in the policy documents and how I can apply that in my work,” says Johanna Senges, who will complete the programme this summer.

Since 2011, VAL has been run as a temporary initiative under which the government appointed eight higher education institutions to deliver the programme. By May 2025, 9,000 teachers in Sweden had graduated through VAL. The School of Education and Communication at Jönköping University contributed to 631 of these now being qualified.

Thomas Winman, Dean at the School of Education and Communication and Vice President for Education at Jönköping University, believes that VAL has been and continues to be valuable for everyone in society.

“VAL is a very important initiative for society as it helps to ensure that more qualified and competent teachers can be trained, which ultimately strengthens the entire education system. Making the most of the experience of those already in the workforce and giving them the opportunity to complete their training is both effective and sustainable,” says Thomas Winman.

Personalized education

The fact that the programme is now becoming permanent enables a more long-term approach to teacher recruitment, which is positive given that the need for qualified teachers remains high. At the School of Education and Communication, students on the VAL programme receive a personalized study plan that considers their previous academic qualifications and work experience. As the programme is delivered via distance learning and is generally part-time, it suits many people who also work at the same time.

Johanna Senges lives in the municipality of Älmhult and began studying the VAL programme, specializing in after-school programme, in the spring term of 2023. She has continued to work throughout her studies. Johanna sees many benefits in developing herself professionally through this programme.

“Through VAL, I’ve gained new ideas and been able to share experiences with others who are both working and studying to become after-school teachers. Another aspect is that, after graduating and obtaining my teaching qualification, it could lead to a higher salary and greater opportunities to change jobs, if I wish. That is also one of the things I believe the programme can lead to, as well as having a more secure and stable foundation to build on in my future work,” she says.

Thomas Winman believes the decision is positive for the School of Education and Communication.

“For us, this means long-term stability and the opportunity to continue developing courses that meet the needs of schools. It strengthens our role as a key player in ensuring the supply of qualified teachers. VAL also helps to broaden recruitment to the teaching profession, which enriches schools with diverse experiences and perspectives – something that is crucial for the future of education,” says Thomas Winman.