This document, adapted to readers who are not familiar with institutional details in Swedish higher education, outlines planning and management at regional and central levels. Emphasis is placed on qualitative aspects of planning and on identification of obstacles and possibilities of change and innovation. A central problem for the study is to suggest methods of how overarching societal (political) goals for higher education could be attended to, together with local and regional freedom and a local and regional planning that is effective and innovative. Another main focus is to study how changes in organization and decision-making can promote desired educational development such as problem-orientation, interdisciplinity, international education, course development to meet demands for new student categories, and new teaching methods, such as project groups. It is based on talks with 250 individuals within the university and professional schools, on literature and documents, and on seminars and discussions within a limited circle of persons. In conclusion, it seems that present bad habits in organization, planning, and management develop because analysis of the real problems is neglected and inefficient methods are used to tackle problems that are not clarified. (Author)