Susanne Mellerskog

 
PhD student in Educational Work

Research

My research focuses on external support to schools, struggling with low achievement, inequality, and socio-economic disadvantages. Research indicates that these schools often need external help in their improvement efforts. However, several studies show that there are a number of challenges to consider in the relationship between an external support and a local school development process. 

Since 2015, Swedish schools with major challenges have been offered external support  within the national school improvement initiative, “Collaboration for the best school” (SBS). This study examines experiences of external university support in schools’ local school development efforts. Data is collected through focus group interviews and qualitative questionnaires, and analysed using organizational theory perspectives.

The results can deepen the understanding of the role of external support in local school‑development processes, as well as of the critical factors that need to be considered in collaborations between schools and external partners. 

I am part of the research group SOL (School Development, Organization & Leadership) which, in an interdisciplinary environment, brings together researchers with a common interest in school development and its organizational conditions.

 

Teaching

I teach on teacher training programs, mainly on various practicum courses, and on the course Leading Processes for School Improvement. I also lecture on classroom leadership and school development. 

Bio

In 1998, I graduated from Karlstad University and worked as a teacher of Swedish, English and French for many years. Since 2017, I work at the department of educational studies, and as of 2024, I am also a PhD student in Educational Work, one of the university’s largest research environments.

Publications