AcadeMedia has initated an investigation regarding Hermods Swedish language training (sfi) for City of Malmö

AcadeMedia has in connection with an investigation of the subsidiary Hermods, which conducts Swedish language training (sfi) for the City of Malmö, identified that Hermods Malmö has submitted incorrect information to the City regarding the teachers who have educated the participants. Three managers at various levels have been removed from their positions.

Hermods in Malmö has around 500 students and about 40 employees. Every month a list of teachers (about 25) who work on this contract is sent to the City of Malmö. In the most recently submitted list 15 teachers are reported as being certified. However, after review of this list and past lists it is clear that approximately half of these persons work at Hermods in Malmö. The other teachers named on the list work at other locations within Hermods. These persons have not been teaching in Malmö and have been replaced by other lesser qualified teachers.

AcadeMedia’s initial review shows that this has been ongoing during a long time and that managers at various levels have been aware of this. The issue is now being investigated by experts from the audit firm PwC.

AcadeMedia is very concerned about this situation and has removed the relevant managers from their positions during the ongoing investigation which is due to be completed by April 25th.

- AcadeMedia has delegated duties and a clear process for risk management. This process has clearly not worked as it should. We are now conducting an externally led investigation with experts from PwC. PwC will review the incident, the formal responsibilities as well as the risk management process and corporate culture as these are closely connected, says Marcus Strömberg, CEO of AcadeMedia.  

The investigation will include the entire Swedish language training operation. PwC’s assignment will also include support in establishing more robust risk management and compliance routines.

An important issue is whether this has negatively impacted the education in any way.

- We will obviously also review this matter and if we find quality deficiencies we will do our utmost to amend these, says Christer Hammar, head of AcadeMedia’s Adult Education segment, which includes Hermods.  

External investigators are PwC. The investigations are due to be completed by April 25th. Hermods sfi-contract for the City of Malmö has a turnover of SEK 25 million per year.

For more information, please contact:

Paula Hammerskog, Director of Communications
Telephone: +46 733 34 87 50
E-mail: paula.hammerskog@old.academedia.duvadev.se

About AcadeMedia

AcadeMedia creates opportunities for people to develop. The 15,600 employees at our 640 preschools, compulsory schools, upper secondary schools and adult education centres share a common focus on quality and development. Our 173,000 children and students are provided with a high quality education, giving them the best conditions to attain both learning objectives and their full potential as individuals. AcadeMedia is Northern Europe ́s largest education company, with locations/facilities/presence in Sweden, Norway and Germany. Our size gives us the capacity to be a robust, long term partner to the communities we serve. More information about AcadeMedia is available on www.old.academedia.duvadev.se