Interest in learning "green" professions is increasing strongly in Sweden. The country's fifty agricultural colleges are winners in competition for 16 year olds. 15 per cent more than last year have applied for entry to "green" educational institutes. Interest in agricultural education has been increasing for six consecutive years after several years' decline. This year's increase is the second biggest ever and the trend is manifest all over the country.
We have never had so many college students as at present, says Claes-Göran Claesson, President of the Swedish Association of Agricultural Colleges. This year almost 3 500 students have started in grade one. Two thirds of them are girls.
The most popular courses are care of horses and other farm animals, followed by agriculture, forestry and horticulture. However, new lines are developing rapidly, such as dog keeping and game preservation, hunting and wilderness. Those passing the courses have good chances of a job after their studies.