Education, training, research and language – Political priorities 2025–2027

Our objective is to make the whole of the Nordic Region a strong, dynamic, inclusive and sustainable education and research region. The main priorities for 2025–2027 are access to high-quality education for all, developing the skills of the future to match labour market needs, boosting research, and preserving and developing the Nordic languages and language community. 

The Nordic Co-operation Programme for the Nordic Council of Ministers for Education, Research and Language 2025–2030 forms the basis for initiatives and priorities for the period 2025-2027. See below for a list of selected focus areas under each goal:

Goal 1: Everyone in the Nordic Region must have access to high-quality education from an early age and through all stages of life, regardless of their background

• International studies on improving learning outcomes in basic skills
• Love of reading among children and young people in collaboration with Nordic cultural actors
• Responsible use of digital technology and screen use in schools
• The link between well-being, mental health and digitalisation
• Understanding democracy, source criticism and media literacy in schools
• Nordic research on early intervention, well-being and learning environments

Goal 2: Future educational programmes in the Nordic Region must reflect the competency needs of society and the labour market

• Skills development and continuing and further education and training for sectors with labour shortages, e.g. welfare and energy
• Lower drop-put rates and higher retention rates in youth education programmes
• Future skills requirements

Goal 3: Nordic research must be of a high international quality and capable of ensuring good knowledge preparedness and new knowledge within strategically important areas for the Nordic Region

• Research into the Arctic, AI, societal security and infrastructure
• Coordination of Nordic research funding
• Framework conditions for young researchers
• Nordic participation in EU research programmes
• Collaboration on research infrastructure and responsible data sharing

Goal 4: As a Nordic community, we must preserve and develop our languages and language communities

• Teaching Nordic languages and understanding neighbouring languages
• Networking and co-operation between children and young people throughout the Nordic Region
• Branding the Nordic languages
• Terminology in all subject areas
• Language technology and artificial intelligence for all of the Nordic languages, big and small

Goal 5: The Nordic Region must be developed as an integrated region for education and research

• Education and research mobility in the Nordic and Baltic regions
• Nordplus’ role and significance for Nordic co-operation
• Joint Nordic positions in the EU and other international contexts
• Responsible international co-operation and academic freedom of expression
• Support small and vulnerable academic communities in the Nordic Region