Inriktningarna

Inriktningarna, plural of inriktning, is a Swedish term meaning “the orientations” or “the directions,” used to describe the specific focus areas within a broader field or program. The phrase is most common in education but can also appear in organizational or research contexts to denote specialization tracks or profiles.

In the Swedish educational system, particularly at upper secondary level (gymnasieskolan), programs are designed to give students a broad basis while allowing a focused study path. Within many programs, students can choose an inriktning to tailor their studies toward certain subjects, skills, or career directions. Common examples include natural science, social science, language or humanities-oriented inriktningar, as well as profiles within technology, economics, health and care, and arts. The exact set of inriktningar varies by school and over time according to curricula and local offerings.

In higher education and vocational training, inriktningar function as specialization tracks or focus areas within a degree program. They help structure study plans and signal intended competencies to employers or further education providers. Examples might include an inriktning mot teknik within an engineering program or an inriktning mot språk within a humanities degree, depending on the institution.

Outside education, the term can describe the intended direction of a project, organization, or research program, indicating preferred questions, methods, or applications. The word derives from inriktning, meaning direction or orientation.