The FREE acronym

At the Stockholm School of Economics, education is about opening doors – to knowledge, to opportunities, and to new ways of thinking. You open the doors to higher education, and by the time you have finished your program, hundreds of other doors will open. That is the measure of a great education. 

Our philosophy – and promise to our students – is inspired by the philosopher Ingemar Hedenius, who said: “the one that is best prepared for the future is the one who is free and alive in a world of uncertainty.” Education should create freedom and liberate the individual. That is the foundation of the Stockholm School of Economics. We call it FREE. 

F stands for our fact- and science based approach. In a world of lies and half-truths, where algorithms are playing an increasing role in forming our worldview, the scientific, critical approach is of crucial importance. If your factual knowledge is poor, you will have nothing to weigh your biases, impulses, or new and innovative ideas against. 

R stands for reflective and self-aware. At SSE we encourage you to really ponder—your ambitions, your motivations, and who holds true influence over your decisions. It’s about defining your own path. This highlights the importance of self-awareness and reflecting on your choices.  

E stands for empathic and culturally literate. An empathic person can view the world from the perspective of other people, immerse themselves in other people’s situations, and imagine what it is like to walk in their shoes. Having the ability to decode other cultures, to understand people of other nationalities or educational backgrounds, is indicative of success and meaningfulness in life in general. And in an era of generative AI and automation, this is one area where humans still have a clear advantage. 

E stands for entrepreneurial and responsible. It’s about questioning the status quo. This is where creativity and innovation enter the picture. The knowledge you gain at SSE comes with power. If you have the power to make a difference, you also have a duty to use it wisely.