The California Experience

In March 2025, the Swedish Program returned to Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma County for a two-week independent pilot program, known as The California Experience. 

The purpose of it was to offer students an intensive immersion in daily life in the US and explore resuming long-term collaboration with SRJC. The students gained in-depth, first-hand knowledge of American society through immersion in American family life, free talks held at Santa Rosa Junior College on topics ranging from the economy to safety and community, and volunteer activities in educational and nonprofit settings in the county. 

History

The Entrepreneurship Program (EP) at Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet in Borås, Sweden, is a rigorous, three-year upper-secondary program taught entirely in English, combining academic excellence with entrepreneurial training and international exposure. 

Founded in 2000 and funded by Sweden’s National Board for Industrial and Technical Development (NUTEK), the program is unique in the country and known for its innovative approach to economic education. The EP emphasizes a scientific approach, entrepreneurship, and life readiness. With an average of 20 students admitted annually, participants engage in university-level coursework, receive mentorship from leading entrepreneurs, and gain global perspectives through short study trips in Europe and the U.S. 

Entrepreneurship Program (EP) and Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) 

Since 2000, the EP has partnered with Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) in California, providing Swedish students with immersive experiences in American families and as guests in classrooms and community organizations. The exchange enriches both Swedish and American students. 

The first class to visit Sonoma County and SRJC was in 2003, and it has been every year since then. After a pandemic pause, the program resumed with short visits in San Francisco, California, in 2022, 2024, and 2024.