Legal requirements for transparency in appointments and promotions in Swedish higher education institutions

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to describe and assess the legal requirements for transparency in appointments and promotions in the higher‐education institutions of Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore legal documents, analyse data, and conduct interviews with leading executives in Swedish higher‐education institutions and administrative bodies.

Findings

Transparency is shown to exist at all stages of documentation and decision‐making procedures. In particular, appeals to the Board of Appeal are rarely approved.

Research limitations/implications

The findings might not be applicable to public sectors in other countries. There is potential for further research to explore transparency in similar procedures in other comparable countries.

Practical implications

Quality assurance and quality control with respect to appointments and promotions in higher‐education institutions might be enhanced by legal requirements for transparency of documentation and decision‐making procedures.

Originality/value

The study provides original research into the administration of part of the Swedish public service and suggests that this might be seen as a potential benchmark for quality assurance and quality control with respect to public access to documentation and decision‐making procedures.

Citation

Svensson, G. (2007), "Legal requirements for transparency in appointments and promotions in Swedish higher education institutions", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 118-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550710731481