The aim of this paper is to focus on the development of HE/CE in Sweden as a transition from a non-academic context to an academic context and a current trend back to a non-academic context considering the nature of the transitions, facilitating factors in theses processes and consequences of the transitions.
Generally health professional higher education has been transformed from being short and work-base to become a nuiversity programme. This is supported by non-controversial Higher Education Acts and facilitated by ideological, economic/organizational and political points of view that emphasise labour markets needs for women, equalities between the sexes, professional groups struggling for authorisation and professional position (status) and growing complexity in work tasks with demands for quality development. The consequences are a gradually growing self-esteem and self-awareness among professionals beneath physican status, signified by non-physicians taking managerial positions, as well as a growing awareness of the need for teamwork.
A transition in perspective concerning the uesfulness of an academic approach in higher and continuing education for health professionals is ongoing. We seem to be standing of the top of an 'academic hill', and can see transitions towards formal learning in non-traditional learning contexts as well as an acceptance of the importance of non-formal learning in all kinds of contexts.
Theoretical, ideological and economic arguments influence te transitions as well as the students' aspirations and attempts to seek meaning. Which context or mix of context is most productive for the learning processes necessary for health professionals? Today high-quality collaborative efforts such as action research and clinical teaching are stressed. In Sweden this clearly appears as a transitions from a 'university agenda' to a 'collaborative agenda' in which the labour-market has a growing influence upon HE/CE and research. The result of this study is also discussed in terms of a 'collaborative view' and a 'competitive view'.