We wish all our students, colleagues, alumni, and partners a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
At Karlstad Business School, we strive to create an environment where students, teachers, researchers, and professionals can develop socially important knowledge together. Below is a selection of the Business School’s impact in 2025 – a year where we have shown who we are, what we can do, and what we accomplish together.
Knowledge and the ability to use it are central and necessary for the transformation we need to make as individuals, organizations, and society. Education and research must always be independent of political pressure and safeguard academic freedom. During the past year, together with other Nordic business schools, we have demonstrated globally that we protect our fundamental principles with a strong focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion.
At the same time, in these times we need to show deep solidarity with other institutions that now have limited opportunities. It therefore feels especially meaningful that we conduct research to make a difference and find solutions that promote sustainability – in all its dimensions – and allow our students to face ethical dilemmas in their education as preparation for their future professional lives, building their ability to navigate an increasingly complex and globalized world.
Marie-Therese Christiansson, Head of Karlstad Business School
Highlights from 2025
- Two major assignments strengthen the Business School’s profile in tax law Stefan Olsson, Professor of Financial Law, has recently received two prestigious assignments in the field of tax law.
- Editorial leadership in working life studies Kristina Palm, Professor of Work Science, becomes the new Editor-in-Chief of The Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies.
- Teacher of the Year Karlstad Student Union has named Jonas Axelsson, Senior Lecturer in Work Science, Teacher of the Year 2024. Students highlight his ability to stimulate critical thinking and continuously develop teaching through feedback.
- Project Management Book of the Year Tomas Gustavsson has won the award “Project Management Book of the Year” for the third time.
- Research on suicide prevention in the transport sector Björn Sund, Adjunct Lecturer in Economics and Analyst at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, has studied measures to reduce suicides in transport.
- Technology’s role in modern auditing Doctoral research by Lazarus Fotoh shows how advanced and less advanced technology is changing auditing practices.
- Children’s digital contracts – legal shortcomings Germaine Hillerström, Doctor of Civil Law, contributes to understanding how children’s rights can be better protected in digital contexts.
- Idea development – from concept to reality Doctoral research by Jana Huck explores how people work to improve ideas and make them real.
- Sustainable consumption – between ideals and reality Anne-Charlotte Paas, Doctor of Business Administration, shows why sustainable consumption is harder than we think.
- Understanding venture builders John-Erik Hassel’s doctoral research highlights how venture builders shape entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Low knowledge of disabilities in organizations Suzanne Millmark’s licentiate thesis reveals gaps in organizational knowledge about disabilities and inclusion.
- Services shaping life quality Muhammad Murtaza Ali’s research spans from the digitalization of the music industry to education for street children in Pakistan.
- Trade tariffs – economic effects Karl-Markus Modén explains the impact of trade tariffs on the global economy.
- Collaboration with University of Oxford Doctoral students participated in the IECL Masterclass and Oxford professor Matthew Dyson lectured in Karlstad.
- Research on sustainable value chains Project Interregional Circularity in Central Scandinavia explores circular business models with Mikael Johnson and Andrey Abadzhiev.
- Extending truck lifespans Project Re:Value studies circular business models for trucks.
- Gennovation – gender and inclusion for SMEs Sara Davoudi leads a project integrating gender and inclusion into business innovation.
- Bruksort 2.0 – Hagfors development Research supports industrial heritage and community engagement in Hagfors.
- Geographic Transition Lab – healthy city districts Research develops health-promoting urban solutions in Karlstad.
- Service Podcast – spreading research insights Tjänstepodden explores customer experience and sustainable business models.
- Sustainability Day 2025 Saab and Färjestad BK showed how values and inclusion drive sustainability.
- Law program – top 20 most applied in Sweden David Johansson highlights the program’s quality.
- Unique legal tech education Cyril Holm explains the collaboration between law and informatics.
- International students praise Communication for Working Life course Led by Lena Lid Falkman and John Johansson.
- Student associations celebrate anniversaries KarlEkon (45 years), Linda Carlstad (40 years), Pelikan (40 years).
- Students meet future employers – KEY Day Networking day for economics and engineering students.
- Megagame – learning through simulation Project INC
