Carina Sild Lönroth, honorary doctor of the board of teacher education

Carina Sild Lönroth is born and raised in Malmö. She is a qualified pre-school teacher and worked for ten years at pre-schools before she studied to become a lecturer in teaching and learning and Psychology. The mentor programme Näktergalen (Nightingale) was launched in 1997 at Malmö University. The idea that students, regardless of their education, can mentor pupils in primary school, comes from the Israeli mentor program PERACH. The Wallenberg Foundation made a three year long pilot project in Malmö possible.

"In the beginning, I was in Näktergalen’s reference group and later I became a project manager. 2006 I applied for funding from the EU to run Nightingale in 8 European countries, and since 2010 I am the manager for the international The Nightingale Mentoring Network, with 24 Universities and more than 40 schools attached."

In many ways, education is the key to a successful life and to not end up marginalised and in bad company. A subject that may be particularly relevant right now. And Carina Sild Lönroth knows what being marginalised is all about. Her parents came to Sweden as refugees on a boat from Estonia in 1944.

"The fact that I get to live in a country that people run to and not from, is humbling. I hope that Näktergalen will sing at more universities in the future. Just counting Malmö, almost 4000 students and children have met and are now ex-mentors and ex-mentees - the circle is closed. In Europe and Africa, more than 1000 students go to see children every week. Via the mentorship, the students become part of something bigger and receive insights and knowledge about the life conditions of children and teenagers, which is vital for those who for example are studying to become teachers. I would really like to put all of my students in my doctoral hat - they are contributing to something you can’t really study for, with playfulness, a lust for learning and without worries for what tomorrow will bring. This is done in accordance with a tried and tested model where everyone is a winner - the children, the mentors, the universities and society."

Carina Sild Lönroth has also investigated the possibility of teacher education in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and she has been awarded the Royal Society Pro Patria’s gold medal for civic merit. She hopes that, with the help of her honorary doctorate, attention will be directed towards Näktergalen, and that more universities will want to participate in the pre-emptive measures and investments in society that is the result of this project.

"I am deeply honoured by this recognition, which draws attention to my now almost 25 years of working with Näktergalen. To be granted this title was definitely unexpected and I want to thank Karlstad University for putting me in such distinguished company - I only hope to prove worthy of this appointment."