[originaltext]W: Professor Pierson, could you give us a brief introduction of t

W: Professor Pierson, could you give us a brief introduction of the well-known educational system for adult students in Sweden?
M: Yes, in Swedish we call it "folkbildning"(Swedish word), which means the popular non-formal and voluntary educational system for all ages. Although it has been made known very recently, the system has, in fact, evolved over a hundred years. People in Sweden come together to study on their own conditions, to listen to lectures, and to take part in social and cultural events.
W: Do they have to register for a school course and sit for classroom teaching as well?
M: Not exactly. Those study groups are referred to as study circles, which are conducted by a larger body called study associations. It is the most typical form of liberal adult education in Sweden. A small group of people meet regularly for a period of time, most often a night per week, to study a certain subject or theme, or to take part in a cultural activity. The circle consists of 5 to 12 participants, of whom one is the leader. In Sweden today, there are around 350, 000 study circles every year, with about 2 and a half million participants altogether. They also arrange more than 200,000 cultural events, with about 15 million participants or visitors.
W: This is really a large enrollment, given the total population in your country. But how are the study’ circles supported? Do they get government grants or are they privately funded?
M: Liberal adult education in Sweden is largely financed by grants from the government, regional governments, and local councils. The parliament has laid down the aims and conditions for granting government support. The aims are to further individuals’ own creativity, and broaden their interest in culture. Furthermore, priority should be given to such activities that aim at narrowing and bridging educational gaps, and that are geared towards those who are educationally, socially and culturally disadvantaged.