The project is called Vårda Umeå and is a full-time course in the Swedish language with a focus on care.

The background to the project is that there is a shortage of healthcare personnel, while at the same time there are many foreign-born people who have training in or experience of various types of healthcare in their home country.

But many lack language skills.

Right to work

The Ukrainians who came to Sweden under the so-called mass migration directive have the right to work, but they do not have the right to SFI that other new arrivals have.

Umeå municipality has therefore sought external funds to make it easier for these new refugees to enter work.

- People are needed in healthcare, and here there are people with skills who want to work.

On the course we have both doctors, nurses, microbiologists, personal assistants and those who have cared for people at home, says Sandra Karlsson who is the course teacher.

Only available in Umeå

At the moment, only Umeå offers the course in Västerbotten.

But there is also the option of choosing to study remotely one day a week.

- We have a slower pace on the distance course, and it is important that you can study on your own.

On the course in Umeå, we have the teaching on site every day except Wednesdays, and it is often much easier to learn the language that way, says Sandra Karlsson.

Start work in December

When do you think the course participants can start working?

- The idea is that they should be able to start work by December in any case.

As soon as the language is in place, they are ready, because the competence is already there, says Sandra Karlsson.