The California Experience

After the pandemic, the Swedish Program returned to Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma County for a two-week community exchange, The California Experience.

The program offers students from Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet in Borås, Sweden, an intensive immersion in daily life in the US. Students gain in-depth, first-hand knowledge of American society through immersion in American family life, free lectures and talks 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 take 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 Swedish and American students alike.

The first class visited Sonoma County and SRJC in 2003, and it has been every year since. After a pandemic pause, the program resumed with short visits in San Francisco, California, in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and returned as a collaboration with SRJC in 2025.