fortbildar

Fortbildar is a Swedish verb meaning to engage in continuing education or to provide it. In practice, it refers to the act of upgrading one’s professional competence by taking courses, workshops, seminars, or other training after initial qualification. The reflexive form fortbilda sig is commonly used to describe an individual actively pursuing further education. The related noun fortbildning denotes the process or activity of continuing education, while fortbildare (also used as utbildare) refers to a person who provides such education, for example trainers, instructors, or course organizers.

Fortbildning is widely used in professional contexts such as healthcare, education, public administration, and industry. It can be mandated by licensing bodies or employers to ensure up-to-date skills and compliance with standards, or pursued voluntarily for career development. Formats include in-service training, online courses, workshops, conferences, and, in some cases, formal studies leading to additional credentials or degrees.

Differences from initial education: fortbildning follows initial basic or professional education and aims to expand or refresh knowledge and competences rather than to establish foundational qualifications. Policy and practice around fortbildning vary by sector and country, but lifelong learning is a common objective in modern labor markets.

See also: Fortbildning, Livslångt lärande, Yrkesutveckling.