Dalarna University

Since being established in 1977, Dalarna University has experienced rapid growth and today is the place of study for about 16, 000 students and has close to 800 employees. Our two campuses—one based in Falun, the other in Borlange—offer a wide range of educational opportunities. Many courses and programs are developed in close collaboration with regional business and industry, as well as other social sectors. The result of such collaboration is that, over the last few years, students from Dalarna University have found employment in higher numbers than students from most other universities in Sweden, according to the Swedish Higher Education Authority (Universitetskanslerambetet). Here, tradition and innovation in pedagogical development work in unison. Although many of our students take our campus-based courses, over 50 percent of all students are registered in web-based distance learning courses, for which Dalarna University is nationally recognized as a pioneer. Accessible and open on a 24-hour basis, these web-based courses—our virtual campus—offer open lectures, seminars, and lessons in which participants can interact with one another using pictures, sound, and text. These are just some of the features of what is termed Next Generation Learning, and our goal is to be a leader in this innovative pedagogical field.