Catharina Rosenquist
Investment Promotion Manager
IB-School International School of Karlskrona (ISK) attracts and retains global expertise in Karlskrona
Karlskrona’s need for expertise has perhaps never been more evident than now. The city has become a world center for technological development and green transition. A large part of the expertise needed will not be found in Karlskrona or even in the Blekinge region. Some may be found in Sweden, but a large part will be foreign employees who choose to come to Sweden with their families.
With several internationally acclaimed projects underway, including NKT’s construction of a new super factory and Saab’s submarine deal with Poland, Karlskrona is of global interest. An enormous amount of labour is needed, and will be needed, to run the major projects. Not to mention all the subcontractors who are also looking for expertise.
Karlskrona needs expertise from outside of the region, even from other countries. And everyone arriving in a new country for work all want the same thing: an international school for their children to attend. Karlskrona municipality has developed something unique – a public, international primary school, that teaches according to an internationally recognised curriculum within the framework of what is called the International Baccalaureate, IB.
“We contribute to attracting and retaining global competence in Karlskrona and the region”, says Emma Andersson, deputy principal at ISK.
Sweden’s most important growth is taking place in Karlskrona right now. ISK is a very important player for realising the projects mentioned. Without competence, the projects will not succeed. That is why it is so important to be able to offer a whole where you can attract families to Sweden and Karlskrona. It is about everything from offering attrractive living environments to education. Here, ISK plays an important role as an education coordinator of a high-quality international education.
Globally viable education
ISK includes an internationally approved primary school education for ages 6-11 (Primary Years Programme) and ages 12-15 (Middle Years Programme). The education is designed to work globally. Since 2024, an internationally recognised education equivalent to upper secondary school level has also been offered in Karlskrona – the Diploma Programme (DP), preparatory for higher education. This to be even more valuable as an international education provider in a fast-developing region.
“Our education programs, the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Middle Years Programme, are suitable for families from all over the world. We currently have around 110 students from 22 different countries worldwide. All our teaching is in English, except for language subjects. We also have a close collaboration with Wämöskolan, a 7-9 school in Karlskrona with which we share premises. In addition to the opportunity to speak Swedish with other students, we also offer a common marine engineering profile. In this way, we contribute to building the skills that are in demand locally. It is both inspiring and meaningful for our students to be able to take part in a strong marine engineering tradition and see how their knowledge can be connected to future opportunities”, says Emma.
Providing a fixed point for families
ISK was first to introduce the IB program in Blekinge, initiated in 2018. The school is accredited according to the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Middle School Years Programme. This acts as a seal of quality for the school and shows foreign families that it follows an international curriculum that is approved in all countries. This makes ISK an IB World School.
“As an international school, we are a fixed point for foreign families who move around to different countries because their parents work in different places. All IB schools work according to the same goals and with the same program, international curriculum and common values. This creates security for our families who move to Karlskrona and choose us as a school for their children”, explains Emma.
Looking to attract international talent?
International education, strong industry partnerships and a high quality of life make Blekinge an attractive destination for global professionals and their families.
Contact Business Blekinge to learn how the region can support your growth.
